A foodbank helping to feed dozens of families has told how the amount of people using its service has increased as cost of living pressures begin to bite.

Darlington Citadel Salvation Army in Thompson Street East provides food parcels to up to 30 people a week who are struggling to make ends meet.

The church and charity runs the food service on a Friday evening between 5.30pm and 7pm but also invites people in for a hot meal, cup of tea and a chat.

But as everyday living costs and energy bills continue to rise more people are seeking help to keep their finances afloat. The Darlington foodbank sees an average of around 27 people using the service each week but has recently documented several people approaching them for the first time.

The Northern Echo: Volunteer Lynn Leach hands out food at Salvation Army DarlingtonVolunteer Lynn Leach hands out food at Salvation Army Darlington (Image: The Northern Echo)

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Major Shirley McKenzie, who leads the church, said: “We are seeing an increase in the number of people coming for food parcels - folk we don’t see regularly. The last few weeks we have had parents come to us who are in work but what they are earning is just not paying the bills.

“It’s very sad because it takes a lot for people to come through the door, there is embarrassment, so we try to make people feel welcome. One mum messaged us afterwards to say: ‘thank you’ and that she felt welcome. That’s what we want to achieve, we’re not just providing a parcel of food but a listening ear or further help if they need it.”

The Northern Echo: Darlington Citadel Salvation Army in Thompson Street East provides food parcels to up to 30 people a week who are struggling to make ends meetDarlington Citadel Salvation Army in Thompson Street East provides food parcels to up to 30 people a week who are struggling to make ends meet (Image: The Northern Echo)

The foodbank is reliant on donations, and while volunteers also buy items from local supermarkets using community funding, it is the generosity of the public which keeps the service running.

Major McKenzie said the service was at its busiest during the Covid pandemic but the demand has remained ever since. “We peaked at about 50 food parcels, but it has averaged out,” she said. “Pre-covid we were a lot quieter, but the need has been there since the pandemic, so we’ve continued to provide.”

Food bags available to be collected from the facility typically include tinned vegetables, meat, beans, fruit, cereal, teabags, and milk. There’s also cleaning products and toiletries. Sanitary products are also available, but prove popular, so any further donations will help with supplies.

Major McKenzie added: “We offer a hot meal on a Friday night as well, either to sit in or have as takeaway, which eases the pressure for people as it’s one less meal they have to worry about, but it also gives us the chance to sit with people, have a cup of tea, ask them how their week has been and see if we can help in other ways.”

If you would like to donate food bank items, please contact Major Shirley via email darlington@salvationarmy.org.uk or phone 01325 380994 to arrange to call in.

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