COVENTRY Foodbank has appealed for urgent items alongside chocolate eggs this Easter after it recorded its second busiest year.
The charity fed almost 30,000 people across the city in the 12 months from January 2022, an increase from 500 to 700 Coventrians per week.
Last month, the foodbank gave out six tonnes more food than they received.
The foodbank’s most urgently needed items are fruit juice, UHT milk, jam, cooking sauce, tinned tomatoes and tinned vegetables.
Feed the Hungry director Gavin Kibble MBE said the charity has built up stock levels over the years and normally holds around 80 to 100 tons of food.
However, much of this tends to be large stocks of pasta, baked beans and cereal.
“There is always a tension between items that we have large stocks of and regular shortages, which we have to purchase.
“Unfortunately demand for our standard food parcels is still increasing and at the moment we are not getting enough coming in to be able to supply the growing needs of so many people across the city.
“Every year at Easter kind-hearted people send us chocolate eggs to include in our food parcels.
“While these are greatly appreciated, this year we’re seeing a greater need for the basics due to continuing poverty fatigue being felt across the country.”
Food donations can be made at the Coventry warehouse in Progress Way, Binley between 8.30am and 4pm every Monday to Friday.
There are also collection points at shops across the city.
Visit https://coventry.foodbank.org.uk/ for more information or to make cash donations.
