The Rutland Foodbank says if money is really tight this January as bills come in then please do consider using them.
They had a marked increase in December due to, they believe, the cost of Christmas and the increase in heating bills due to the cold weather. Although regular donations were down due to the squeeze on household incomes. They say thanks to generous donations, they can dispatch a seven day food parcel to those who need it. Anyone who needs the service is asked to contact Citizens Advice Rutland in the first instance as they can also check you're receiving all the benefits and help you're entitled to, as well as issuing a referral to the food bank. Chair of Trustees of the Rutland Foodbank Ali Wainwright says often a parcel and then you can just help bridge the gap when money is especially tight.
‘Say their car breaks down. I mean, you know, couple of months needed to sort out a car. It's a couple of emergency vouchers for food and then it just gets people back on balance. So we're here to help. Your first couple of months of the year are always tough for everybody, but perhaps more so for those people who perhaps were trying to make things better for the family but then realising that actually when the bills come, it's going to take a big chunk out of their income. So please, if you are struggling to get food, please have a chat with other charities. Citizens Advice Rutland are our preferred partner because they can also help with other issues, they can check benefits. Unfortunately DWP is never going to tell anybody that they're missing out on something. But the advisors at Citizens Advice will check that you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to, all the allowances, all the grants, and it's surprising what's out there that people don't get until somebody helps them find it’.
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