Foodbank Reality

A PC site specialising on food issues has come up with some alarming statistics.  'Maidenhead town centre is a postcard-perfect vision of dreary British consumerism with its rows of coffee shops, Greggs bakeries, chain clothing stores and mobile phone shops. You'd be forgiven, then, for thinking a queue swelling at 9.20 AM on the high street was for of some sort of flash sale. In fact, it was the queue for the local food bank. There's been a staggering 163 per cent rise in foodbank use than in the previous financial year, and over 900,000 adults and children have received three days emergency food and support. Despite signs of economic recovery, the poor have seen their income becoming more and more squeezed. More people are relying on foodbanks than ever before. (MUNCHIES, 22 September) So while politicians boast of an economic recovery this is the reality for many workers. RD