Food banks need donations to help Doncaster’s most vulnerable during coronavirus crisis

Sam Siddall, aged 31, is the manager of the Edlington Community Organisation - who run a food bank as part of their services.

She said: “We’re really low on stock of ambient foods at the moment - we just can’t get hold of pasta, rice or beans.

“We’re also really low on toilet roll, nappies and baby formula.

“We need to be able to support people who are in crisis over the next few weeks - those who are in self-isolation and need food parcels delivering to them.”

The community group is asking people to donate as much as they can whether that be goods or their time.

“Please donate anything you have in your cupboards that you don’t need.

“We need more volunteers - we will be training more because many of our volunteers are between 50 - 70 years old and may be vulnerable themselves to the virus.”

The food bank has already seen an increase in people visiting them for food.

She said: “People have been coming here after they visit the empty supermarkets and asking us what we have.”

Sam fears that if the government decides to shut schools in the coming weeks that the strain on their food bank will be even greater.

“We already provide a breakfast club and an after school youth club for the children which include free meals.

“If people keep buying food erratically then there won’t be enough food for us to cover those extra meals when school is no longer an option.

“We don’t know what food we’re going to get or what the quality of it will be in the near future.”

Sam believes that main food banks in Doncaster are prepared for situations such as this one but fears smaller community groups will suffer if donations are not made.

If you want to get in touch with the centre you can call them: 01709252549