The chairman of Wycombe Food Hub has urged anyone needing help to visit the store after seeing an “alarming” increase in customers.

After setting up during the Covid-19 lockdown the Wycombe Food Hub has continued to stay open with the need for it remaining in the town.

The decision to keep the food hub open came as a study by the University of Sheffield in 2021 found Wycombe was one of the worst areas in the UK to be hit by food insecurity.

The data found that 14 per cent of people were estimated to be hungry and nearly 30 per cent of people were struggling to access food.

It also estimated 22 per cent of people were worried about having enough food at 22 per cent.

The food hub sells one basket of food for £3 with a second costing an additional £2.

One Wycombe resident, Ada Starzyk, has been using the food hub weekly for over a year.

She said: “Everything is going up, that is why we come every week two or three times.

“When you go to the shops, you can buy one pack of eggs for three pounds.

“Here you buy a full basket of food including vegetables, milk and everything.”

“The baskets here are like £3 but in the shop the same food you buy it for £15 so it's a lot of savings.

“Everything is going up, really fast.

“Sometimes you go to the shop and the next day you can go and things are 20p more.

“[The Wycombe Food Hub] is really important and it’s best to have the place in town.”

Volunteers collect surplus residual food from wholesalers, supermarkets, and other organisations and resell them at incredibly cheap value. 

The hub collects 1,5000 food trays a month and has around 500 transactions from customers a week. 

Chairman, Trevor Snaith said: “There has been an increase in footfall.

“It’s quite alarming how many people who need help.

“We are open to everyone, if you are struggling and you can get food.

“If you have nothing, there is free food available.

“Nobody should go hungry because they can’t afford their gas and electric.”

The hub also delivers to homes, Wycombe Hospital for struggling nurses and works with churches to give out free food to those in need.

As well as working to fight waste management and food poverty, the hub also has a clothes branch named Bobkins Bazaar.

In keeping with the ethos of reducing waste, the shop sells children’s toys, clothes, shoes, coats, and baby equipment at reduced prices.

It also stocks fancy dress items, workwear, retro clothes and school uniforms. 

Trevor revealed it is “incredibly used” and that charity now opens it for more hours than the food hub.

For more information visit www.wycombefoodhub.org or call 01492913626.