A SURGE in demand has coincided with a drop in the number of donations with disastrous consequences for a Vale food bank.

Vale Foodbank is described as currently being in a “perfect storm”.

The number of people needing food parcels has increased by 29 per cent, but donations of food from the public has plummeted by 15 per cent, according to the charity.

Items desperately needed include staples such as pasta, potatoes and shampoo.

A local charity which is dependent on donations of food and finance to provide people in the Vale of Glamorgan with food and support with financial problems, volunteers at all eight foodbank centres in the county are reporting much has changed recently.

The soaring cost of fuel, food and rents have led to more working people needing to turn to foodbanks for support.

“Last week, we were down to one tin of meat and one tin of soup,” said Graham Atkins who volunteers at the Vale distribution warehouse.

Aaron Goddard, a warehouse manager for the charity, added: “People are struggling and it’s hitting us from all sides.

“The numbers who need our help is going through the roof, but donations have fallen off a cliff.”

The surge in demand coincides with a drop-off in donations.

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, 89,338.74Kgs of food were donated to the foodbank.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year that number has fallen to 75,925.12Kgs - more than a 15 per cent drop.

Graham Loveluck-Edwards is a local organiser for Vale Foodbank. He said: “In the short term, we would be grateful if people, schools, churches, and businesses who do not already donate would consider donating what they can.

“That will help us through this difficult period and enable us to respond to increasing local needs. But in the long term we need sustained change.”

If you would like to donate food to the Vale Foodbank, this is the list of the items they are most desperately in need of

  • UHT fruit juice
  • Tinned ham/ corned beef
  • Tinned fruit
  • Coffee
  • Tuna
  • Rice pudding
  • Tinned vegetables
  • Tinned soup
  • Tinned spaghetti
  • Jars of pasta sauce
  • Savoury snacks
  • Peanut butter
  • Jam
  • Instant mash
  • Tinned potatoes
  • Deodorant
  • Shampoo

There are drop off points throughout the county where these can be left and collected by volunteers.

  • Barry: Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, One Stop, and Aldi Culverhouse Cross. Also, at Snap Fitness and our Warehouse in Tennyson Road, Barry CF62 9TN
  • Dinas Powys: The Library and Tesco Express.
  • Llantwit Major: The Co Op and Bethel Baptist Church
  • Cowbridge: Waitrose
  • Rhoose: St Peters Church
  • Penarth: Tesco

If any societies, institutions, schools, or businesses would like to set up regular financial giving, please email becky.morgan@vale.foodbank.org.uk.