A Cumbrian food bank is offering self-referrals for the first time.
The Salvation Army in Penrith operates the food bank from its Hunter Lane church and community centre in Penrith, every Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 3pm.
Major Carole Donaldson, church leader of The Salvation Army in Penrith said: “We know that there are people in our community that are really struggling.
“Some people being pushed further into poverty might not meet the criteria of being able to access a food bank, but it doesn’t make the need any less urgent or real.
“An ever-growing amount of people are living each month hand to mouth and if an unexpected bill comes in, for example an MOT, people have to make the agonising choice of cutting back, and sometimes that includes food and choosing to not eat.
“There can be a stigma around accessing and using food banks but the reality is that food banks exist because the cost of living is just too high and benefits, and indeed wages, just aren’t keeping up.
“We want to ensure that if someone is struggling one week that instead of choosing to go without food, they are able to come and access the food bank service and receive a friendly helping hand when they need it the most.”
With food banks typically operating on a referral basis from partner organisations, The Salvation Army has chosen to allow its service to be accessed on a self-referral basis as well as referrals from partner organisations, including doctors, health visitors, schools social services and the local council – and has recently become a lifeline to stop people falling into food poverty as supermarket prices continue to remain high.
Major Carole added: “There is a wider poverty at play, the poverty where people look as though they are managing when actually, they are struggling to make ends meet.
“Every week we see new faces; some may have never needed to use a food bank before, some may have never envisaged themselves being in that position, and that can be very daunting and overwhelming.
For anyone wanting to support the work of The Salvation Army in Penrith, financial donations can be made to the church on Hunter Lane.
