Shopper food donations fall as working people seek help

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Food donated by shoppers to Caerphilly Foodbank has fallen by up to 80% at a key collection point, forcing the charity to buy its own stock to feed struggling residents.

Weekly donations left by customers in the collection point at the town’s supermarkets have dropped from between 100kg and 200kg to around 30kg or 40kg.

The drop in public giving comes as the service sees a shift in the people seeking help, with staff reporting more people in paid work, single people in temporary accommodation, and an increase in referrals.

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Ryan Hyde, who has managed Caerphilly Foodbank for three years, said rising household bills mean regular donors can no longer afford to give food.

“I think people are struggling to buy their own shopping at the moment, never mind supporting a food bank on top of that,” Mr Hyde said.

“We’re noticing that ourselves because we have to purchase food, so we’re spending a lot more money on supplies than we ever have before.

“People coming to us now include those who are working but still struggling. Even though they’re employed and getting paid, it’s simply not enough.

“I don’t think there’s necessarily a lack of food in the UK. The problem is a lack of wages and income. There’s a lack of money.”

While some local supermarkets donate food directly to the charity, the drop in customer collections has placed greater strain on its finances. Some supporters continue to give money directly, which allows volunteers to buy items in short supply.

The charity, part of the Trussell network, operates its main distribution centre from Connect Life Church in Caerphilly town. It also runs sites in Penyrheol and at Van Community Centre, while occasionally helping residents referred from neighbouring areas including Taff’s Well and Pontypridd.

Around 25 volunteers run the food bank across four days each week, sorting stock, packing parcels, and providing warm drinks to visitors. Parcels contain non-perishable food, toiletries, baby supplies, and pet food.

While most people arrive through agency referrals from bodies such as social services, volunteers also accept walk-ins to connect people with wider support services.

Mr Hyde said the food bank aims to tackle the stigma around seeking help by offering a listening ear alongside emergency parcels.

“When people walk through the doors, we only see a small bit of their bigger situation,” Mr Hyde said. “It’s important for us to have compassion and just be there for people. We want to sit down, have a chat, and help them feel welcome.”

He cited one regular visitor who was experiencing homelessness when they first turned to the centre for food and support. After moving away to complete a rehabilitation programme, the person recently returned to Caerphilly to update staff on their recovery.

“They came back looking so much better,” Mr Hyde said. “To see the change in that person’s life and know we played a part in supporting them is encouraging. They are on the road to recovery.”

Mr Hyde added that a guideline suggesting people can receive three parcels in a six-month period is not a rigid limit.

“People sometimes think three parcels in six months is a strict limit, but it isn’t,” he said. “We want to make that clear because our priority is supporting people.

“We see ourselves as providing emergency food and being a last resort. We hope people receive support before they reach the point of needing a food bank, but we understand that sometimes this doesn’t happen.”

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