Election hopeful visits foodbank

WARRINGTON North Parliamentary hopeful Richard Short has been to visit the Warrington Foodbank – and admitted that years ago he was in a situation where he would have jumped at the chance of getting help from one.
He says he was struck by the amount of food that had been donated to the foodbank by the generous people of Warrington.
The Conservative prospective candidate (pictured) said: “Many years ago I applied for Housing Benefit from my local council.
“I had to wait four months for the first payment because they had lost my application form.
“We were in real hardship as a result and even now I really don’t know how we coped. What I do know is that I would have jumped at the chance of help from a food bank to feed my family – a foodbank just like the one run by Warrington Volunteers.
Mr Short met volunteer David Oakell to donate food to the foodbank and get to know about the good work the volunteers do.
“The warehouse is run by volunteers and provides emergency donated food help to people in unfortunate circumstances.
“Everything from victims of domestic abuse, sudden redundancy and, as in my case, delayed income are just some of the reasons why people can find themselves needing emergency food help.
“Foodbanks have been around for over a decade but only since 2011 have Government agencies been allowed to refer people to them.
“Much has been made recently of the so called scandal of the proliferation of foodbanks and how this shows an increase in need.
“As my personal experience shows, there has always been a need and, thanks to the dedication of volunteers, those in need have a lifeline.
“I agree, the welfare agencies need to up their game and speed up benefit claims more quickly, but the foodbank helps the immediate need and the dedicated volunteers who run them need to be congratulated.
“The Warrington foodbank also supplies the Salvation Army with emergency food so every donation of food and toileteries, however small, will be gratefully received.”