Fear of hunger for county families
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FAMILIES in the Far North face the threat of going hungry this winter as demand for food parcels spirals.
The number of packages available through HomeAid Caithness and Sutherland has dropped by 50 per cent as donations dry up.
The charity, which works in partnership with Blythswood Care’s Highland Food Bank initiative, provides boxes to feed a family in need for three days. It has worked on behalf of Blythswood to distribute parcels across the North for a number of years.
All food packages are made at the main distribution centre in Inverness before being sent across the Highlands. However, the amount of food parcels sent to Caithness has dropped by 50 per cent as demand for items grows in Inverness.
HomeAid general manager Michele Whibley revealed hundreds of families facing financial trouble depend on these boxes.
But she said the situation has now reached a critical point as donations have dwindled and demand continues to rise.
She feared unless the situation improves, the future of the service in the Far North could be in doubt. “The distribution to the Far North has been cut down as Blythswood try to cope with the demand for food parcels in Inverness,” she told the Caithness Courier.
“We received a phone call from the distribution centre saying that they are not getting enough food to keep up the current stock they were able to distribute. To meet the needs of people in Inverness, they have had to reduce the number of parcels heading north.
“Unless the people of Caithness and Sutherland can keep a steady supply of food coming through, we are very limited to the amount we can give out.
“People don’t believe the amount of people who come forward and use the service here. They are mainly people who are living on benefits, experiencing financial difficulty or who are homeless.
“But with the winter season approaching, the demand for food is going to grow and, unfortunately, we are not going to be able to meet demand.
“I’m not sure what is going to happen now and the supply will continue to be strangled.”
Blythswood project co-ordinator Finlay MacKenzie said its food donations have decreased in Caithness and Sutherland compared to the rest of the Highlands.
He said it is vital for donations to increase to keep the service going in the county.
“Up until about last week, demand was soaring in Inverness, but it is starting to settle down at the moment. Part of our plan is to increase promotion of the food bank programme outside Inverness. In the past, we have found people in Caithness to be very generous and see the opportunity to increase donations as not a big problem.
“The way things are going we could see our biggest demand for food parcels yet. A big thing is if people are forced to choose between keeping warm and eating.
“However, it has to be noted that the food bank is not a feeding programme and is only to be used in an emergency until people can sort themselves out. But the more donations we receive the better placed we will be to meet demand.”
HomeAid Caithness and Sutherland is appealing to the public to help families in need.
Mrs Whibley said if every household could donate at least one can or packet of dried food, it could make a big difference.
“If anyone would like to make a donation they can hand it into our shops,” she said. “We can even offer assistance by coming around to people’s homes and picking up goods.”
For more information about donating food, contact HomeAid Caithness and Sutherland on 01847 891300 or 01955 603833.
The charity has shops in Thurso’s Princes Street and Wick’s Dempster Street.
Demand for Blythswood services set to rise
1: Across the Highlands and Islands over 2800 people have received food parcels through the Blythswood scheme so far this year.
2: It is expected demand will be more than last year when 4108 people collected a food parcel thanks to 29 tonnes of donated items.
3: In 2009, 3625 people received a food parcel as part of the scheme.
4: Forty-five per cent of people receiving the parcels do so because of the late payment of benefits.
5: Seventeen per cent of people who collect food parcels do so through low household income.
6: Fifty-three schools across the Highlands and Islands took part in the Blythswood Food Bank Day in May.
Source: Blythswood.
