CLITHEROE’S Foodbank has given out over 400 meals in its first two weeks of service.

Ruth Haldane, project manager at the Parson Lane charity, said: “It’s more than we had ever expected.

“We knew there was a need but assumed we’d start small and build up but the demand is clearly bigger than we expected.”

The news comes as the Lancashire Telegraph campaigns to encourage readers to back foodbanks after an article revealed the shocking extent of food poverty in the region.

The Trussell Trust Foodbank opened in Clitheroe on July 8 and is providing emergency food to people facing hardship in the Ribble Valley.

Mrs Haldane said: “People have an assumption that the Ribble Valley is an affluent area but the truth is, people who live here are facing the same hardships as elsewhere in the country.

“A big factor is people losing their jobs or having their hours cut.

“They then have to apply for benefits that can take weeks to complete.”

A recent report by Legal and General revealed that the average British family has so little in savings that they are just 18 days away from the breadline.

Most families would be reliant on state benefits and help from friends and families within fewer than three weeks of losing their usual sources of income and four out of 10 families without any savings at all would face financial disaster if they were made redundant.

Official Government figures earlier this week revealed that average earnings continue to fall behind inflation. The price of consumer goods and services purchased by the household (CPI rate) rose to 2.9 per cent in June from 2.7 per cent the month earlier, while earnings only rose one per cent – a third of the CPI rate.

“A lot of hunger is hidden and not talked about. For instance we’ve seen people over retirement age struggling to afford food on their pension and families on low wages,” Mrs Haldane said.

“We’ve had great support from the local community and we have got a wonderful team of volunteers.

“They have all been brilliant and it’s great that we are able to help.”

HOW TO DONATE TO OUR FOODBANK CAMPAIGN

THE Lancashire Telegraph has teamed up with local foodbanks to tackle the growing problem of food poverty in East Lancashire.

We are asking readers to donate food to help our campaign.

There are many foodbanks across Lancashire and all need non-perishable, in-date food.

  • Blackburn Foodbank: Take your food donations to the Distribution Centre, Unit 5, Brunswick Street, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 11am to 2pm. Or call 07594 215356 to arrange for donations to be collected.
  • Clitheroe Foodbank: There are collection baskets in Skipton Building Society, Natwest and Barclays Bank, all Clitheroe churches and Clitheroe Mount. Or drop off donations at Trinity Methodist Church, Parson Lane, Clitheroe, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11am to 1.30pm.
  • Community Solutions Foodbank: St James’ Old School, Cannon Street, Accrington, or call 01254 352591 to arrange a drop-off in Burnley.
  • Darwen Food Larder: The Food Larder has collection points in town and local churches or drop off donations at the Darwen Community Furniture Project, Unit F, Watery Lane Works, Darwen, from 9am to 5pm.
  • The Raft Foundation: Drop off in many Rossendale shops, Haslingden Tesco, churches and schools. To arrange to drop off non-perishable donations or to give money for fresh food, go to www.raftfoundation.-org, or email info@raft-foundation.org
  • St Philip’s Grassroots Centre in Nelson: open every Monday morning. Call 01282 877640.