The Importance of Food Banks

To most of us, the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the words “food bank” is collections at school of tins of soup, rice and pasta during harvest season or the collection basket placed near the door of our supermarkets, with a few measly packets placed at the bottom. Not that that is where our next meal will be coming from. The aim of foodbanks is to help the people less fortunate in society, escape poverty and get a second chance at a better life. Food banks aim to provide food, toiletries and most importantly a real chance at a life we all deserve. Children from less advantaged backgrounds are put at a massive educational disadvantage if they do not have the opportunity to have a well-balanced diet. Without the nutrition they need daily, these children are not able to focus and reach the heights of their real academic potential putting them at a massively unfair disadvantage, to children from well off backgrounds. Why should any child have less chance at a bright future, just because of their parents' misfortune?

Another important service that food banks provide, is free toiletries and particularly sanitary products to women and girls. Often mothers living in poverty do not have the money for things like this because they must prioritise getting food for their children. Sacrificing your own health and hygiene so your children can eat, is not something any woman, any parent or anyone should ever have to do, and this is why services like foodbanks are so important.

“I Daniel Blake,” an independently produced film, is an incredibly emotional and accurate representation of the hardship working class and single parent families face. It really puts shame on the government, their lack of support for families who are less fortunate and the appalling welfare system. The film was initially shown at multiple cinemas across Britain for free because, being an independent film, the aim was not to make money but to spread such an important message about poverty and the lack of support the government provides for those struggling. A heart wrenching scene in the film that particularly impacted a lot of viewers, is the food bank scene, that shows young mother Katy breaking down due to hunger and stress and perfectly displaying to viewers less aware, the effects of poverty. “I Daniel Blake” did exactly what director Ken Loach wanted it to do and gave the working class a voice they had never had before, raising awareness and showing that something drastic must change.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the number of people needing to use foodbanks has dramatically increased. Compared to in 2019-2020, the Trussell Trust reported a 33 percent increase in the number of three-day emergency food parcels in 2020-21. The Trussell Trust’s food bank network provided 936,000 emergency food parcels to people in crisis between April and September 2021. Not everyone in need of food parcels has the opportunity or feels comfortable reaching out to get them, so you can only imagine just how many unfortunate people are in need. Everybody deserves to eat, have access to sanitary products and have a fair chance at success, never mind their social class, so please consider how a small act like donating one can to a foodbank could drastically improve someone's life.