Milton Keynes City Council has given an extra £80,000 to MK Foodbank to support more families struggling during the cost-of-living crisis.
Milton Keynes City Council is giving extra cash to help create 88 new MK Foodbank ‘top-up shops’ which help families struggling financially to buy food cheaply without having to rely on food parcels.
Last week, the Progressive Alliance, the Labour and Lib Dem coalition that runs Milton Keynes City Council has announced a £3.3 million-pound Winter Plan to help residents in the city struggling during the cost-of-living crisis.
The City Council is set to provide direct financial assistance alongside practical support delivered in partnership with local organisations.
It comes less than a week after the Labour and Lib Dem coalition declared a 'cost of living emergency'.
Operations Manager at MK Foodbank, Louisa Hobbs said: “The trustees and staff at MK Food Bank are thrilled that MK City Council has announced its intention to provide funding to support our services this winter. This generous grant is greatly appreciated as part of our valued partnership and will enable us to help many residents of Milton Keynes who are facing financial hardship and food insecurity right now.
“The cost of living crisis has led to increased demand for food support. Requests for emergency parcels are up by around 40% on this time last year and every week about 50 people are contacting us for the very first time. These numbers are rising all the time as people struggle to afford basic essentials and pay their bills, and the cold weather will inevitably lead to an even greater surge in demand throughout the winter.
“More and more we are also hearing from individuals and families who need longer term support just to make ends meet. Our top-up shops are already helping hundreds of households put food on their tables and budget for other bills and essentials, and the funding from MKCC will enable our mobile shop to reach many more.”
