Basic choices for Eastleigh residents? Basics food bank located next to fast food outlet.
Urgent donations are needed to Eastleigh basics bank, as the cost of living crisis intensifies.
The bank currently located in Wells Place – among Fast Food restaurants -opened in 2014 and has since grown to support customers across the Borough of Eastleigh.
As of April 8, 1,188 people were provided with food within 2022 – consisting of 614 adults and 574 children.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, they were faced with a particularly challenging period, with a shortage of donations and an increase in demand.
Demand is currently up by a third compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the soaring cost of fuel and food meaning residents of Eastleigh will inevitably struggle going forward.
Dave Keating: “The cost of living is going to go up by quite a lot”
Co-ordinator Dave Keating, said:
With the rise in fuel bills, the cost of living is going to go up by quite a lot. We were hearing the average fuel bill in each house is going to go up by 700 to 800 pounds per year.
Public donations make up almost all of their supply, so help is constantly needed to keep the bank topped up .
Probably 95% of what comes in is actually donated by the general public. People can donate by putting tins and packets of stuff into our trolleys at local supermarkets.
We get a lot of stuff that we’ve already got, so we’re trying to educate people as to what we need at this particular point.
Dave Keating told Eastleigh News that while the bank is inundated with some items – they have thousands of cans of baked beans for example – there are items that are particularly in short supply such as tinned cold meats, and basic sanitary products such as deodorant, toothpaste, and shampoo.
A full list is available on the shop’s website, with any level of donation appreciated.
There are three food banks across Eastleigh, in need of donation, with opportunities to donate in local supermarkets.
Food donation point in Sainsbury’s
