MK Food Bank has supported the local community with emergency food parcels since 2004. The longer-term effects of Covid and the subsequent cost of living crisis have led to increased demand for food support. In the first half of 2023, we have already given out over 15,000 food parcels and equivalents – this is 50% more than the same period last year and has now reached the same levels as the peak of Covid lockdown. For those experiencing longer term financial hardship, our network of top-up shops provides an alternative route to food parcels and aims to encourage and support independence on a step-by-step basis.

We estimate that we have supported around 1 in 25 households in Milton Keynes over the last 18 months. This represents at least one child in every class, at least one household in every street and possibly at least one in most workplaces. And every week about 50 people are contacting us for the very first time. People who have never had to ask for help before.

And as the cost of food rises our donations are sadly going down. We’re now only receiving around half of what we need to supply this demand, meaning that we are having to buy thousands of pounds worth of food every month.

By supporting M&M Supplies and friends as they climb Ben Nevis this autumn, you are ensuring that we can continue to raise vital funds for the communities that the Food Bank supports.