Derby charity makes urgent plea for support after record number of new people ask for help

A Derby charity is struggling to feed families in the city after a record number of new people asked for help.

Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, based in Charnwood Street, said that 50 per cent of the calls it is currently receiving are from new people struggling with food insecurity.

Paul Brookhouse, manager of the Derby charity, has made an urgent appeal for support and says he is just weeks away from running out of food.

He said:  “We are running desperately low, and things are getting serious. We simply don’t have the funds to keep spending £8,000 to £10,000 a month on food to fill our shelves. We need help, and we need it now. If you can support us by donating food, please get in touch. It makes me very miserable to think that in 2024, people are going hungry.”

Last year, DF4TA spent £110,000 on additional food to make sure it met demand. But with supply slowing down and demand continuing to increase, the charity says it is just weeks away from running out of food in Derby.

Paul said: “We are enormously grateful for the support we receive from local people, schools and businesses – but we are struggling again.”

For the last year, Paul and his team has been working hard to transform the way people are supported, through the introduction of community food hubs and pantries.

Paul said: “Right now, in the short term, we must meet the immediate needs of our local families – and this means appealing for more food. It disappoints me when we have to keep making urgent appeals for help – but what can we do?

“People will be going hungry if DF4TA does not step in and support the huge number of people who are calling us every day.”

If you can help DF4TA, through donations, e-mail paul @ df4ta.com or call 01332 227730.