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Foodbanks’ usage rises
FOODBANK: With the Foodbank Collection at St Mary's Church Selby are Sheila Coggrave and Nigel Currey. (BUY THIS PHOTO L8229TS) Picture: Tony Saxton
A LOCAL foodbank has defended the work it does, after claims by a Yorkshire councillor that donating to such causes merely enables people to spend more on alcohol and cigarettes.
The comments came from York councillor Chris Steward who claimed there was “no real poverty” in the UK, and as such no need for foodbanks.
The ‘Selby Foodbank’, which operates from four local churches, has been running since June 2011, when they joined the Trussell Trust, which runs the banks nationwide.
Nigel Currey, who is part of the small team that helps run the service, says that they run a worthy scheme and that for many people, they are the last resort.
He said: “The vast majority of people we deal with are coming here due to certain circumstances.
“We usually give people food to cover them for three days, and always unperishable food.”
Nigel said that the group have seen a sharp rise in number of people attending over Christmas and New Year.
He added: “We usually average 16 people a month, but recently we’ve given out 37 in the same space of time.”
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Monday 20 May 2013
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