Food banks: How we can support those in need this Christmas

Food bank usage has gone up by 74% in England alone this year. 

It is sad that in the 21st centry there are still so many people and families unable to access the very basic of things. 

We spoke to Pastor Steve Crosthwaite from Hollywood Christian  Life Centre on Simms lane on the ever growing need for food banks.

"When we first considered the need of a foodbank in Hollywood and Wythall we were not sure how much it would be needed, but we did know that some would benefit.

It would seem that we are feeding over 60 people a week, a mixture of families, single mums, and retired people living on their own. I believe there are more people that need help but that we have not been able to connect with them.

"Like I say not huge numbers by comparison to other areas but those that need it, really need it.

"We first started operating a food bank in November 2019 and initially helped only a small number of families get through the Christmas period and January when the family purse tends to be stretched the most. "

"Then when the Pandemic hit and the lockdown we started to see that more people were struggling than ever before. People are struggling for all kinds of reasons, low paid jobs, changes to the benefit system, and then added to that are the effects of the pandemic. 

"Reduced wages, the effects of lockdown on those with zero hours contracts, the self employed who fall outside of all the help being offered. Many have said the pandemic has been a leveller, but that's not true. For some it has made life so much more difficult.

  

"So we help, and we do it gladly.

"As a church we believe that God loves us and helped us when we most needed it, and the foodbank is an expression of that love and generosity back to our community.

"We have been blown away by the help of the community with people bringing food, essential supplies, donating money, its been incredible. We have also had help from the SPAR, MP Honnor Butchers, the Coppice School St Patricks Primary School, and the Parish and District Councils."

The work that Pastor Steve Crosthwaite and the team at Hollywood Christian Life Centre. If you can, please consider donating to the food bank to help families in need. 

The contact information for the food bank is left below. 

Telephone number: 01564822726 

Email: office@hollywoodchristianlifecentre.org.uk

This is our last article of the year, and we want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us for our second year! 

We hope all our readers have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hopefully 2021 will bring more fortune than 2020.