Suffolk Foodbanks see sharp rise in users as winter hits

The news comes as the UK faces a national cost-of-living crisis, with soaring bills and skyrocketing food prices. 

"We have seen a huge rise," said Matthew Scade, project manager at The Trussell Trust's Waveney Foodbank. 

Matthew Scade said Waveney Foodbank has seen a 75% increase in demand on last year (Image: Simon Parkin)

"We're about 75% up on this time last year and we've helped feed around 2,000 clients in the run-up to Christmas.

"We even saw 550 people in just one week.

"To put it into context, eight years ago we were helping 1,200 people in a year. Now we're seeing that per month."

It is estimated that demand has been so great across the UK that there are currently more food banks than McDonald's restaurants.

Mike Smith of Stowmarket and Area Foodbank said this year has been the "busiest winter yet". 

"We're putting together more hampers and sending out more parcels than ever before," he added. 

Mike (left) and Hazel Smith (right) of Stowmarket and Area Foodbank (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

"Fortunately, giving has been really high so we're able to stay on top of it.

"Members of the public have been so generous."

Donations to food banks are usually much higher over the festive period - and this year has been no exception.

"It is wonderful to so many people giving so much," said Maureen Reynel of Ipswich FIND (Families in Need). 

"It's been incredible and I've just been blown away. 

"We have seen a huge rise in demand - not just for families, but also for individuals.

Maureen Reynel of Ipswich FIND said it was wonderful to see so many donations (Image: Newsquest)

"In the run-up to Christmas we handed out more than 200 food parcels and hundreds of hampers.

"But with this amazing support from the public, we have been able to stay on top of it all."

Major Alan Hill, leader of The Salvation Army in Woodbridge, said his organisation was seeing a similar situation.

"There has been a big rise in the number of people coming to us for support," he said. 

"We were helping between 83 and 113 clients during the run-up to Christmas.

Major Alan Hill said The Salvation Army in Woodbridge was helping between 83 and 113 clients in the run-up to Christmas (Image: Charlotte Bond)

"But fortunately donations have gone up so we seem to be coping with demand well at the moment. 

"The public have been very generous and we're so thankful."

Donate to your local Trussell Trust food bank by visiting their website and following instructions.

Donate to Stowmarket and Area Foodbank by calling: 01449 774000. 

Donate to Ipswich FIND by calling Maureen Reynel on 01473 833351.

Donate to your local Salvation Army by visiting their website and clicking 'donate'.