From April to December 2013 foodbanks across
Norfolk fed a staggering total of 16,332 people, almost the same as the populations of
Aylsham (6,016 population - from 2011 Census) and
Attleborough (10,549) combined.
Cromer foodbank fed 1,700 people,
King’s Lynn (2,360),
Mid Norfolk (1,674),
Norwich (7,096),
Thetford (1,502),
Waveney (797) and
Great Yarmouth (1,203 – only recently opened).
The figures were collected by Norwich foodbank manager,
Grant Habershon, who said: “With nine meals per person in each box that is the equivalent of providing 195,984 meals.
“All the people foodbanks help have been referred there by trained professionals – they cannot simply turn up to claim food. Whatever the reasons behind their need, they are all proud people who do not want to ask for help but have nowhere else to turn.
“They are people who may have suffered a sudden bereavement, illness or redundancy, or whose benefits have been changed or delayed – but all of them are in crisis,” said Grant.
“Their immediate issue is that they have no food, and our food boxes solve that immediate need. We can then point them onwards to further help when they need it.”
The shocking figures were revealed shortly after the Norfolk area foodbanks received boosts from two recent public collections.
A collection for local foodbanks at
Norwich City’s recent home match against
Hull City raised £2,700. Grant said: “We had 43 wonderful volunteers most from local Rotary Clubs and the organisation of the day was done by
Rev Philip Young of
Norwich St Edmund Rotary Club. Both sets of supporters were great with many Hull fans also very willing to donate to our cause.”
The second collection followed a Christmas appeal by
Archant Norfolk newspapers, the
Norwich Evening News and the
Eastern Daily Press, which collected over 150 boxes of food plus £2,500 in cash for foodbanks across the region.
Pictured above, Rotarian Alan Price collecting for Norfolk foodbanks outside Norwich City’s Carrow Road stadium.