Thirty-seven individuals required help from Keswick Food Share last week – the highest number since the charity was set up in April 2023.
Jean Murray, trustee and chair of Keswick Food Share, said that demand for the service has been steadily increasing with more than 30 bags of goods being handed out weekly.
The food share scheme is based next to Keswick Library and open on Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. The food is free to anyone who needs it, providing they have a CA12 postcode, although there is a voluntary contribution of £2 if recipients can afford it.
Asked why there was an increasing demand, Jean said: “There is less work in Keswick during winter because seasonal and casual jobs drop off from September.
“The cost of winter fuel is also having an impact. People are having to think very carefully about what their money is spent on. They cannot afford to eat and also heat their homes.
“They are having to make their money go much further because there is no help to be had with heating. But we do signpost people to other sources of help because we can only help with food.”
Food Share volunteers have now started referring those visiting the charity to a new fund that has been set up by the Keswick Rotary and Lions Clubs. They are working together this winter having set up the Heating Help Fund which provides financial aid to those who cannot afford to warm their homes properly.
But while the demand for bags of food has increased, donations to the charity have also risen. This month Keswick Food Share received a £660 donation following a Christmas quiz night at the Borrowdale Institute and members of the town’s Cuckoo Club chipped in with £400 from a festive meal they had. They spent more than £300 at Lidl in Cockermouth buying selection boxes, chocolates, cakes, puddings and mince pies to give Food Share clients a Christmas treat in their bag of goodies.
“We have been able to make extra Christmas bags for people,” said Jean. “If you could see people’s faces – they are just blown away.
“They cannot afford to spend their money on things like that because they have to spend their money on essentials. It just means that everybody gets a little bit of Christmas cheer at this time of year.”
Food donations are picked up by volunteers from Booths and the Co-Op on a Monday and on a Tuesday they are sorted and dated before the hand out happens on a Wednesday. Bags are made up for families, couples and single people and contain foodstuffs to make a breakfast, lunch and tea.
A recent recruitment drive has taken the number of volunteers at Food Share up to 30. “Everybody mucks in,” said Jean.
