Teachers and doctor forced to use food bank in Birmingham

The manager of a Birmingham food bank has revealed that ‘many more diverse visitors’ including teachers and a doctor have had to use its services recently with demand beginning to soar this winter.

Feedo Needo is a Digbeth-based charity that supports the homeless and those in financial difficulty by providing free food parcels.

Demand for the services of food banks is expected to soar during the winter months due to the end of furlough, Universal Credit cuts and the increase in energy prices - and at Feedo Needo it’s no different.

The manager of the food bank has revealed that it is currently much busier than usual - it’s already helped more than 50,000 people across the country in the last year.

And people from a variety of different backgrounds have had to go to the food bank for help.

Rafa Ahmed, project manager at Feedo Needo, said: “In the recent months we have seen so many more diverse visitors visiting our food bank centres – often visitors you wouldn’t usually associate with using a food bank.

“We have come across some patrons who are ex-army veterans, teachers, a doctor who was made redundant during lockdown, and an asylum seeker who was an architect in Iran before he fled persecution to the UK.

“This just highlights the dilemma we are in, with the rising cost of living, the aftermath of the pandemic and the impact of winter which makes a big difference with people feeling very stretched financially.”

‘We’re in need of donations more than ever’

December is always one of the busiest months of the year at Feedo Needo, but demand is still much higher than usual at the moment.

“So far, we’ve served roughly 6,000 visitors over the winter period and more than 50,000 service users throughout the past year, which is much busier than usual,” Rafa said.

“These figures really highlight the surge in demand and that we’re in need of generous donations more than ever.

“We are urging people to donate groceries, toiletries, and warm clothes if they have any to spare as we want to ensure that no one has to go hungry or cold this Christmas.”

Feedo Needo joins forces with University of Birmingham

To combat food poverty in our city, the food bank had recently partnered with the University of Birmingham (UoB).

Feedo Needo received support from UoB students, who have been volunteering in their spare time for the charity since the pandemic.

Approximately 500 hours have been donated by students from the UoB’s ‘Action Against Homelessness Society.’

On a weekly basis, a handful of different students have given up their time to help pack and distribute food parcels, serve hot drinks and sandwiches as well as donate much needed goods to the food bank.

Isobel Thornton, current Chair of UoB’s Action Against Homelessness Society and Poppy Hill, previous chair, organised a ‘Virtual Charity Shop’ where proceeds went to Feedo Needo.

The girls set up a Facebook group to put out a call out for donations to fellow students.

Isobel said: “Within four weeks, we had over 200 members on the Facebook group and over the eight weeks that we took clothing donations, both our houses became packed with donations that people had generously made.

“Items started from 50p as our aim was to sell as much as possible. We raised £333 through which proved to be a great success, and we were overwhelmed with the sheer quantity (and quality) of donations.”

Project manager Rafa thanked the students for their support, saying: “We are so grateful for the support shown by the incredible students at UoB. This is just one example of how communities can really pull together and make a difference in their local area.

“Feedo Needo is where it is today because of volunteers and partners we have in Birmingham, London, Manchester and Bradford who are all working hard to help us fight food poverty together.”

How you can help

The charity now offers essential support in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford through free food parcels, essential toiletries and multi-faceted community help.

To make a single or monthly cash donation to the food bank, visit the Feedo Needo website here.

You can also donate groceries and other items at the food bank’s base at Smithfield House, Digbeth.

To find out how to get involved or volunteer for Feedo Needo, visit the website.

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