Sunderland food banks call for help as coronavirus looks set to increase demands on its stocks

Wearside food banks have added their voice to calls to ensure their cause is not forgotten during the coronavirus crisis.
By Fiona Thompson
Published 17th Mar 2020, 11:45 BST
Updated 19th Mar 2020, 18:42 BST

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Organisers have urged people to keep their shelves replenished with items and they vowed to do everything they can to help during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among them is Washington Community Food Project, which is preparing for a rise in demand as the crisis continues, with a list of items in need posted on its Facebook page.

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Its chairman Clive Bowman and wife Maureen have put themselves into self-isolation as they are aged in their 70s, with their family members also asking them to stay away from others, while their team continues to work.

Washington Community Food Project's Clive Bowman, pictured in the lead up to Christmas, has urged people to keep adding to its stocks while he and wife Maureen are in self-isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.Washington Community Food Project's Clive Bowman, pictured in the lead up to Christmas, has urged people to keep adding to its stocks while he and wife Maureen are in self-isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.
Washington Community Food Project's Clive Bowman, pictured in the lead up to Christmas, has urged people to keep adding to its stocks while he and wife Maureen are in self-isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.

They say collections are more important than ever, as they also tend to see a dip in donations at this time of year.

It has drop-off points in supermarkets and its own unit upstairs in The Galleries which is open from 10am and 3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

It has asked anyone experiencing symptoms to stay away and to call instead, with its craft sessions now on hold.

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Clive said: “If we have got families in need, they will still be coming to us.

Volunteer who help run the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen pictured ahead of the crisis - leaders of the group hope people will keep donating during the COVID-19 crisis.Volunteer who help run the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen pictured ahead of the crisis - leaders of the group hope people will keep donating during the COVID-19 crisis.
Volunteer who help run the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen pictured ahead of the crisis - leaders of the group hope people will keep donating during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We are going to have more and more people needing our service because of the way things are going.”

Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen also called for help in such difficult times.

Just like Washington Community Food Project, it is sharing pleas and updates for what it needs through its Facebook page.

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It posted: “In case we are ordered to suspend, people will go hungry, we are preparing, so please help us get ready for such circumstances, people don’t have the financial position to stockpile.

“Corona has just blown the situation to another level and going forward, we still have to find a solution to food shortages.”

Its factory unit in Addison Street in Hendon will be open from 5pm to 6pm on Wednesday, March 18, to Saturday, March 21, to collect items, as will its kitchen at Emmanuel Church in Hudson Road open every day from 2pm to 7pm with online food deliveries welcome.

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