A FOODBANK has had to find alternatives for its users as cost of living has led to a dip in donations.

Hope Centre on Atherton Street has been running the foodbank service within the community, however, for the first time in its 10 years of delivery, it is running out of resources.

Last week saw the centre forced to explain to consumers that stock was low, with two of them deciding to leave without a parcel. 

Mark D’Sa, volunteer coordinator at Hope Centre, said: "We started having people arriving from 11 o’clock and we quickly ran out of a few items.

"The food parcels were less than perfect from early on as more and more things started to run out; the food parcels were just getting smaller and smaller.

"People were having us explain to them at the door 'we can either give you what we’ve got as best as we can, or you can hold on to your voucher and use the next day at the Christian Life Centre foodbank'.

"Everyone was offered food, but there were a couple towards the end of the day, as stocks were down low, that decided to go to the CLC one tomorrow.”

St Helens Star: Stock is lower than hoped at the centre Stock is lower than hoped at the centre (Image: Hope Centre)

Mark also shared how the rising cost of living bills impacted the foodbank service both for consumers and donators.

He added: "Donations are down, and usage is up. The donations are down because people’s money is forced into other areas; Ukraine is one big issue, and now the cost of living here in the UK that has now massively increased.

"The vouchers going up is the cost of living; everything is so much more expensive, and so people just don’t have the money to spend it on what they need, the food."

The centre is now looking for donations to fill up food parcels for struggling households.

Mark said: "We’re here to love and support and do our best to help them. We are here whether the food is or not.

"The donations are a huge part of how we are able to give out to residents who need food parcels, so if people can drop off a tin or something then that would be hugely beneficial."

St Helens Star: Donations are left at the drop off area Donations are left at the drop off area (Image: Hope Centre)

Hope Centre is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10-3pm, and Thursdays 10-2pm.