A CHARITY is appealing for food bank donations and is urging people not to forget about already poor families amid the coronavirus crisis.

Michelle Hayter, church minister at the Salvation Army in Sackville Road, Hove, said stocks for its food bank are “desperately low” and is appealing to the public for help.

She said: “We’re continuing to try and run our food bank, giving food parcels to those in our neighbourhood who can’t presently afford to buy food. 

“Due to the current restrictions we’ve changed from a collection to a delivery service and we’re thankful for our team of packers and drivers. But we’re finding that our stocks are greatly diminished.”

Michelle said the charity would normally receive donations from collection points at churches and offices which have been closed since the Government lockdown. 

The charity has also seen an increase in demand for supplies after other food banks in the area have had to close.

Michelle said: “With the buying restrictions in supermarkets it’s difficult for us to go and make a mass purchase for the many parcels we need to make up – and the shelves are often empty.

“We’re all stocking up our own cupboards and forgetting there are people who can’t afford to shop at supermarkets.

“We’re also aware of families who were previously relying on free school meals to help feed their children.

“That’s as well as the freelancers and self-employed who are on no income at the moment.

“We’ve had to tighten the geographic area in which we work and we’re scared some families are in danger of neglect and malnutrition.”

The charity is asking that people bring items they can spare to its donation point on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings between 9.30am and 1pm, during their daily exercise outing.

Michelle said: “We’ve set up a safe donation station at our base in Sackville Road. If people are in the vicinity and they come in through the Conway Street entrance, we have a safe deposit box for donations.

“We’re asking those who can to try and buy one extra tin when they go shopping – particularly tinned meat, vegetables and soup – to donate. We’re also low on cereals and cooking sauces.

“We’ve set up a crowdfunding campaign too for people to donate money towards the food bank online.

“The Salvation Army has been in Hove for about 140 years and we’ve always tried to support the most needy in this area. Our history books show we used to take bags of coal to neighbours.

“There are people in urgent need and we hate having to say ‘no’.”

Earlier this week the Salvation Army called on the Government to replace Universal Credit advance payment loans with grants, so that thousands of people who have lost their livelihoods due to the coronavirus crisis are not plunged into debt. 

Nearly one million people in Britain have applied for Universal Credit benefits in the past two weeks. 

To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/HoveSalvationArmyFoodbank.

The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving.org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund.