Newark Foodbank had its biggest week of donations as it saw demand increase in the run-up to Christmas.

A record 715kg of food and essentials were delivered in the week ending Sunday, December 2.

The foodbank, which is based at Barnbygate Methodist Church, and supported as part of a nationwide network by The Trussell Trust, provides three days of emergency food to those who find themselves in crisis.

The service has been operating for four years, serves people from the Newark and Tuxford areas and is staffed by around 60 volunteers and five trustees.

The harvest festival period and the run-up to Christmas are important for the charity as it seeks additional supplies to cope with an increase in demand and to supplement the food provided with extra treats.

The foodbank received 1.5 tonnes of donations in the last two months, which boosted its stores ahead of Christmas.

It has been busy during its open sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays, but the number of users was not significantly higher than last year.

Jenni Harding, of Newark Foodbank, said: “We all want everyone to have a happy Christmas.

“For some this is difficult, with challenges such as meeting higher energy bills and inevitably matching children’s expectations.

“A small contribution by many makes a vast difference.

“We focus on providing non-perishable food to those in need and work closely with other organisations in the town to help people in immediate need, such as those sleeping rough, to get a hot meal and extra warm clothing.

“Others, such as the Salvation Army, work closely with other agencies to ensure that where possible no child goes without a present at Christmas.

'The need is there throughout the year'

“We are very fortunate in Newark to have such a large number of agencies that work together to provide a helping hand.

“It is one of the many facets of the Newark community in action together and is especially meaningful at Christmas time.”

Jenni said the foodbank did not want to give the impression that it was required only at Christmas.

“While the extra donations we and other organisations receive at this time of year help to make Christmas a bit more cheerful, the need is there throughout the year,” she said.

“The donations the people of Newark and the surrounding villages make at our collection points around the town each week ensure we never run out of food.”

Newark Foodbank is operating normally over Christmas except on Boxing Day.

For more information on the foodbank, go to the Newark Foodbank website.

"Poverty shows its face in many ways"

A Government report that placed Newark and Sherwood near the foot of the table for social mobility highlighted issues around opportunities for those in poverty, according to the head trustee of Newark Foodbank.

Mr Steve Charnock said the report, which ranked the district 323rd out of 324 in England, raised a number of areas of concern.

“From a foodbank perspective, poverty shows its face in many ways, including that of food poverty,” he said.

“That was the primary reason why we started the foodbank in Newark in 2012 and subsequently joined with the foodbank in Tuxford in 2016.

“Since then we have continued to provide emergency food relief for clients who are in crisis, together with advice and a listening ear to those in need.”

Mr Charnock said the reasons why people had to use a foodbank varied.

He said: “Some are suffering from the effects of having to pay for a large single expenditure — such as a replacement cooker — while others are addressing the challenges of managing on low incomes and benefits.

“These challenges are not unique to Newark but are issues that society as a whole has to address.

“The number of people calling upon the services of the foodbank has remained relatively constant over the last couple of years and we do not see a significant reduction in its use in the foreseeable future.

“We obviously support any measures that aim to reduce food poverty among those in our communities and continue to be astounded by the generosity of the people of Newark, Tuxford and Southwell and the surrounding villages.”