The Methodist Children, Youth and Family Team recently partnered with Joint Public Issues Team and Transforming Lives for Good for a Holiday Hunger Focus Week. JPIT’s Paul Morrison wrote the following blog to support it: www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/?s=holiday+hunger
The Trussell Trust has seen an 89% increase in the use of food banks since April 2019. This figure rises to 107% in the numbers of families with children who now require the support of a food bank. A copy of the report from the Trussell Trust can be downloaded on this link:
Trussell Trust Report on Food Banks 2020
Low income families have been hit with the double whammy of schools being closed for two and a half months and a reduction in earnings and/ or redundancies. A survey conducted by the JPIT shows how the lowest earning workers are more likely to lose their jobs due to the impact of COVID-19. See https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/the-effects-of-the-coronavirus-crisis-on-workers/
How can we respond to holiday hunger as Christians?
The Methodist Church has a number of suggestions in its blog https://www.methodist.org.uk/holidayhunger/
- We can find out what the needs of our local neighbourhood are
- Support local foodbanks and try to feed local families either by volunteering time or through donations
- Fight for change. A quick way to do this is to add your name to the Save the Children petition
- You can also email your MP calling for change including an end to frozen benefits by following this link
- https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-work/children-youth-family-ministry/the-well-learning-hub-equipping-and-supporting-workers/holiday-hunger/fight/