Each year on the 16 October the world celebrates and reflects on World Food Day, a day that aims to raise awareness for hunger and sustainable food sources. With the coronavirus pandemic gripping the nation, food hunger has worsened according to reports, leading many people turning to charities and foodbanks.

Medway is no exception. Lorraine Schulze, project manager of Medway Foodbank tells Invicta News: “We’ve seen a huge increase in foodbank use over the pandemic. Back in April we saw a 200% increase from the same time last year.”

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) say that one in 10 people reported they had accessed a food bank in June, with food insecurity more than doubling under Covid-19 and lockdown. Medway Foodbank is now running at a 60% increase in capacity. This jump in demand has meant that the foodbank now has to spend on food stock – the first time in its history which dates back to 2011. Schulze says that the centre is spending £700 per week on food stock.

The FSA revealed in July – at the height of the pandemic – that food insecurity had shot up even further since lockdown as people’s income reduced and more families

Tracy* from the South East says that she couldn’t afford food after she lost her job due to the pandemic. “Foodbanks saved my life, I couldn’t get another job and I was really stuck,” she says. Tracy was able to get Universal Credit but adds: “Foodbanks really provided a lifeline for me. I’m so grateful for them.”

Tracy was in a low-security job before the pandemic but “just managed” to stretch her money far enough to cover her expenses. “When the pandemic struck I knew I would struggle a lot, I lost my job meaning I had no furlough and little savings,” she adds. Not being able to afford food, Tracy was left with nowhere to go. “I’d always heard of foodbanks, but I never thought I’d go to one.”

The stigma attached to foodbanks proved difficult for people who were struggling with getting food. The FSA report also found that food banks were often a less desirable option for people due to the negativity attached to accessing it. A single mother from Manchester told the report: “I know there are food banks, but it’s not something I feel comfortable with.” This often led to people “skipping meals and going hungry” according to the report.

The pandemic also changed the ways in which foodbanks could operate safely. Medway Foodbank had to shut all eight of its centres when the nationwide lockdown was announced at the end of March. The foodbank has 150 volunteers – 60% of whom are over 60. With volunteer numbers at an all-time low and no centres open the foodbank had to adapt fast.

The donation system was changed to a mobile phone app called Spareable. It allows people to shop online and donate to the foodbank in a safe manner. It is still in force in the foodbank due to the pandemic due to it “not feeling right to open the centres yet”, according to Schulze.

Schulze says that the foodbank is working with Medway Council on a food partnership group. The group will look at ways to help people successfully do what World Food Day is trying to achieve – create sustainable food that is accessible. She says: “This a really positive step for Medway.”

Councillor David Brake (Con) of Medway Council told Invicta News: “Medway Council has found issues regarding food poverty. What we are interested in doing is dealing with food poverty and that people are given the right choices of food to eat.”

Cllr Brake added that Medway Council alongside the Health and Wellbeing board and the Public Health team is facilitating a dialogue about food waste to overcome the issue of food poverty.

“Covid-19 has struck us with a vengeance and in my specialism, Adult services, it is my duty to care for elderly and vulnerable people and we have seen many examples where people can go without food.”

Medway Council has partnered with the NHS to provide food parcels for the vulnerable and those who were isolating.

“When panic buying happening, people couldn’t go into the shops so we along with the Public Health team delivered food. Medway Public Health set up a warehouse which stored food for the food parcels.”

Cllr Brake said that the second wave makes it “highly likely” that the warehouse will be needed again. “Medway Council and the Public Health team are committed to looking after the individuals in our community,” he adds.

A Trussell Trust report released last month showed that food banks are forecasted to give out six emergency food parcels a minute this winter.

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust said: “Our research finds that Covid-19 has led to tens of thousands of new people needing to use a food bank for the first time. This is not right. If we don’t take action now, there will be further catastrophic rises in poverty in the future.”

*names have been changed to protect identity