I visited Benarty Food Bank this week to meet with volunteers and thank them for their time and effort in supporting people across the central Fife area. I also took the opportunity to highlight the impact that a no-deal Brexit will have on the most vulnerable in our communities.
The numbers of people having to access foodbanks as a result of emergency cash flow issue is on the rise. Figures released earlier in the year revealed nine independent food bank venues in Fife had collectively handed out 25,795 three-day emergency food supply packages in the previous 18 months.
Over 210,000 three-day emergency food supply parcels were distributed by Trussell Trust foodbanks across Scotland as a whole in 2018-19.
Benarty Foodbank recently marked five years since it was established and the figures show it is very much needed in the area. It is great that people give up their time to staff the food bank and I know those who seek assistance are very grateful to them.
However, is it not shocking that in 21st century Scotland people are having to rely on charity to simply feed themselves and their families? It’s terrible and incredibly saddening that the numbers of people relying on foodbanks is also increasing.
This is the coalface of austerity. It’s impacts are why people are struggling to feed themselves and the Tory Party should be ashamed for blindly following this damaging political agenda. It’s especially telling that even their own report into the impact of a no-deal Brexit states that lowest income families will be hurt the most. It is time we ended the dehumanising political choice that is austerity once and for all.
