Once again, our members have supported food banks across North Yorkshire with a £500 donation to each of the food banks in Skipton, Scarborough, Harrogate, Selby and Hambleton. This latest donation come on top of £5,500 donated in total to local food banks last year.
Our branch Secretary, Wendy Nichols said: “People might be surprised to hear that there is huge demand for food banks in North Yorkshire.
“We are often, wrongly, portrayed as an affluent county but whilst there are areas of huge wealth there are also many individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet.
“They might be out of work, unable to work, or in work but on low wages and insecure contracts.
“Once again, our members have stepped up with this further donation. I am proud that we have now donated over £8,000 to our local food banks but I am appalled that food banks continue to be needed by so many people in one of the richest countries in the world.
“Our donation comes at a time when people on low incomes are being hit even harder by this government, as the £1,000 cut to Universal Credit comes into effect.”
Michael Webster, Chair of the Trustees of Hambleton FoodShare said:
“Thank you very much for the generous donation from UNISON to the work of Hambleton FoodShare. As you will know the need for food parcels has increased substantially over the last 18 months, and Hambleton has been no exception. Our communities have been so generous that we have been able to meet the need. Sadly we do not expect there to be any improvement in the foreseeable future, indeed there is every prospect that the situation is going to get worse. With the continued help of our community we shall continue to respond.”
Dawn Pearson, Project Manager at the Harrogate District Foodbank said:
“Absolutely amazing thank you very much for your generous donation. Our charity would not be possible without your donations, thank you.”
