A new report reveals the ‘staggering’ number of persons using food banks.

The chief executive officer of a food bank charity with 27 distribution centres throughout the region has warned that “poverty levels are much deeper than many realise” and that this is “only the tip of the iceberg.”

Black Country Food Bank, which operates out of a central facility in Brierley Hill, reported distributing over 519,000 meals in 2017 – a 31% increase from 2021.

In the meantime, the number of individuals helped by its food banks increased by 39%.

In January of this year, its chief executive officer, Jen Coleman, reported that the organisation had assisted the most people in a single month since its inception in 2006.

She stated, “We assisted 3,700 individuals, 37% of whom were children under 14.”

The numbers are staggering, and the extent of destitution is far greater than most people realise.

“After a difficult couple of years adapting to the challenges of the pandemic, the country was quickly plunged into the ‘cost of living’ crisis, which shaped trends for 2022,” she said about the charity’s impact last year.

“During 2022, our food banks were stretched to the breaking point as we laboured to obtain supplies, saw long lines of people at our food banks, and worried about the volunteers’ ability to continue.

Naturally, our volunteers are the backbone of everything we do, and their dedication to their communities is unparalleled.”

We cannot begin to express our gratitude for all that they provide.

She stated that by increasing the number of food banks, providing a voucher code to frontline workers over the phone, purchasing food and toiletries in bulk, introducing recipe bags, and sharing stock with more than 50 other food aid charities in the Black Country, the organisation had been able to provide for everyone who had accessed its services.

However, she cautioned, “These figures are only the tip of the iceberg.”Many more individuals do not access food banks or charity assistance due to fear, pride, or ignorance.”

In a new report, the charity details the impact Black Country Food Bank had in 2022 using quantitative data.