Worthing & Adur Councils Support Pandemic Food Donations—But Appeal For Further Help

Funding from Adur and Worthing Councils worth more than £15,000 has gone towards local emergency food provision, as people increase requests to foodbanks while the pandemic deepens.

The councils said on Thursday (January 21) that, since the first lockdown in March, thousands of residents across Adur and Worthing have turned to emergency food providers for help with food.

But, with more people facing hardship, either through job loss or being unable to work, the councils expect the number of citizens in need to rise further this year as the fallout from the pandemic continues. 

To ensure there is enough food for everyone throughout the crisis, Adur & Worthing Councils have been collaborating with Community Works to support local projects to distribute essential food supplies. 

The Councils have contributed £15,000 towards additional supplies for emergency food provision and have created temporary storage space at Worthing Town Hall.

However, the need locally is so great that local residents are being urged to donate what they can to help keep families fed. 

Cllr Kevin Boram, the Adur councillor responsible for health and wellbeing, said:

“During the pandemic there has been a huge demand on our emergency food providers, as an increasing number of people have no choice but to turn to the food banks for help.

"By networking our resources we aim to ensure that no one goes without and that there’s enough food to go round.”

Cllr Val Turner, who has the same role with Worthing Borough Council, added:

“The emergency food providers — which range from the established food banks to small residents’ groups that have been set up to support their neighbours — remain heavily dependent on donations.

"This is why we are urging local residents to help by continuing to donate — food and money — to help those in need.”

Donations of food can be delivered directly to Worthing Town Hall. 

The councils direct anyone wishing to donate to this website: https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/community-wellbeing/foodbanks/