Northampton foodbank prepared for influx as nearly 50 families visit on day before second lockdown

A Northampton foodbank is ready to ‘rock and roll’ through the second lockdown, which is expected to increase demand for such services.

Weston Favell Centre Foodbank, located in the shopping centre, has more room for stock than ever before and the team is ready for the second lockdown.

Following a huge rise during the last lockdown, numbers had begun to decrease and the team were packing food parcels for between 80 and 90 families a week, as well as delivering to around 20.

However, last week during half term, deliveries rose to just over 30 and foodbank visits hit 110.

The increase in demand is one that has skyrocketed again, following the announcement of a second lockdown on Saturday (October 31) and numbers are expected to continue to increase throughout the winter lockdown.

Anne Woodly, foodbank boss, said: “On Wednesday (November 4) we had 48 families come in and we’d normally only expect 20 to 30.

“If there is a big influx in supermarkets and retail, then our people will do the same too. They want to stock up their cupboards as well.

“And if people are still on furlough, for a client group who are on a basic wage anyway, 20 percent less is a lot, so over a period of time it really affects them.”

Thankfully for the local community, the foodbank team is ready for the rise in demand that they are already seeing and is confident they can continue to provide for those who need it.

Anne added: “We have been prepared for some time.

“We knew it was coming, like everyone really, so we made sure we were stocked up in the food bank.

“Since the start of the pandemic we have been operating from upstairs in the old New Look unit, but we’ve now got picking rooms downstairs too, which means we can have more stock.

“We have a lot of food in there and we’re also lucky in the fact that the public has been really generous with donations, as well as local businesses, so we really are ready to rock and roll.”

As with all charities and community groups that have stepped up during the pandemic, volunteers have been imperative and will continue to be for the foodbank as the second lockdown continues.

“All the way through this Covid experience we’ve had a natural flow of volunteers,” Anne continued.

“We have been really lucky with volunteers, but if anyone does want to volunteer they can get in touch.”

Search Weston Favell Centre Foodbank on Facebook to contact Anne and the team about offering your time and support.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you