Salisbury Foodbank needs toiletries hero
The foodbank are short on things like toothpaste and toothbrushes
Salisbury Foodbank is asking for donations of toiletries to help low income families this summer.
In a post on social media, the foodbank called for a 'hero' to save their toiletries section.
"Giving toiletries to people who seek our support is really important to us," said Foodbank Project Manager Maria Stevenson.
She told us that demand on the Foodbank has already increased in the early weeks of the summer holidays, and that it's only likely to increase as we head towards Christmas.
Tackle financial hardship clean and lively
Maria told Greatest Hits Radio that if a person is able to tackle the day feeling clean and lively, they're more likely to challenge issues around financial hardship.
The foodbank regularly gives out shampoo, conditioner and toilet roll, things many class as an essential, but those on lower income find an added cost.
"It's really good to be able to provide that and supports people's dignity and wellbeing," she said.
The foodbank is low on most toiletry products, including toothpaste and toothbrushes, and donations can be made in several ways.
Collection bins are stationed in Tesco stores in Salisbury, Amesbury and Tidworth, as well as in Waitrose, with further collection points found on the foodbank website.
"We feel it's really, really important to be able to provide toiletries to someone in need," Maria added.
"The core of our work is food, but being able to support with toiletries is an amazing thing to be able to do."
Rising demand heading into Winter
The summer holidays are well underway and Maria says demand has already increased.
She says children will eat more at home as they don't have the structure in their day of school.
Maria said: "We actually had a very low volume July food bank terms, until the very last week of July when we were running out of stock in some of our centres, cause we had such a flow of people in to collect food and they were mostly families."
And now that we are into August, Maria is strategizing for the months ahead.
"I'm already working on my harvest resource identify and what food items that we would need for harvest and going into Christmas.
"(When we) hit September and boom, our demand goes up month after month and month after month until we hit December, which is usually our peak month for support."
To aid this, the foodbank will be holding a collection day at Tesco's on Southampton Road on Saturday 12th August and Maria will be visiting as many as 20 schools throughout September to speak to students.
Maria gave us a sneak peak at the harvest list, which included tinned fruit, long life milk and even tinned curry!