Since opening in April 2017, the Fitzjohn's Food Bank has grown steadily and is now serving an average of 21 households each week. We work out of Christ Church in Lewes and aim to provide our members with two and a half days' food every week. From April to October this year, our cheery band of volunteers provides goods for over 13 000 meals to local deserving children and adults!

As well as the basics such as, beans, soup, canned meats, fish, fruit and vegetables, sanitary products, toiletries and cleaning supplies, we are committed to providing at least eight to ten portions of fresh fruit and vegetables weekly. This of course comes at a cost. Our members donate £1 every time they pick up a food parcel and we receive kind public donations and grants from Lewes Town Council but we still need to find more money to provide our members with consistently well-balanced food parcels.

With rising food prices, stagnating wages and the problems with the benefit system, we anticipate more households being referred to us. The vast majority of our members are families in which there is a wage coming into the home. This may seem shocking in an affluent town such as Lewes but it is a reality. In the area local to the food bank, 28% of children live below the poverty line.

We know the food we provide directly helps our members and they appreciate how hard we try to provide them with quality, useful food parcels. Please help us to continue this work and donate what you can. Thank you!