Southwark Foodbank has defended its decision to close during the Queen’s funeral bank holiday after some Twitter users branded it “insane” and “disgusting”.
The Peckham-based food bank has explained that they always close on bank holidays and that people would get bumper food parcels over the preceding days.
Chris Price, CEO of Pecan, the charity hosting Southwark Foodbank said: “If people are coming in during the week we’re making sure their food parcels are a bit bigger.”
He added that they were referring people to other services so nobody goes hungry on the Monday bank holiday.
When, last month, the food bank announced it was closing for the Monday, August 29 bank holiday, the Twitter reaction was non-existent.
But an almost identical tweet posted yesterday (September 13) has seen people describe the closure as “vile” and “shameful”.
One Twitter user said: “Yeah, because people don’t need to eat when they should be respecting the Queen. THIS IS ABHORRENT!!!!!! Please tell me this is a joke!?!?!??”
Another person wrote: “Taking away impoverished people’s access to food at short notice out of ‘respect’ for a woman who never went hungry a day in her life is disgusting and insane.”
Clarifying their closure announcement, Southwark Foodbank later tweeted: “Thank you for your comments on this issue, and sorry that we didn’t make our process clear.
“We would like to reassure you that we close every bank holiday and inform referral agents in advance.”
Southwark Foodbank told the News it was already feeling the strain of the cost of living crisis, with referrals up 20 per cent compared to this time last year.
The food bank is running low on cooking sauces, pasta sauces, jam, baked beans, curry sauces and tinned fruit.
They are also on the lookout for new volunteers who can sign up here: https://volunteer.trusselltrust.org/opportunities#display=grid&s=date_advertised&o=desc
Southwark Foodbank is at 121A Peckham High St, London, SE15 5SE. Those in need of their help should call 020 7732 0007 or email foodbank.support@pecan.org.uk.
Southwark pays tribute to Her Majesty The Queen – read our six pages of coverage