FOODBANKS across mid Essex have seen demand soar during the pandemic and helped hundreds more families than last year.

Figures released by the Trussell Trust show the number of parcels distributed by volunteers at the Braintree Area Foodbank has climbed 20 per cent, with 487 more people helped out this year compared to last.

A total of 2,900 food parcels were handed out in the Braintree district between April and September this year – up from 2,413 in the same period last year.

Of those handed out in 2020, 1,380 were given to children – up from 1,066 in 2019.

There were 1,520 adults receiving parcels this year, compared to 1,347 last year.

The Trussell Trust says April to September was its busiest ever half-year period, with 1.2 million parcels distributed across its network.

Lee Ranson, project manager at Braintree Area Foodbank, said: “All our centres have been very busy during the six month period from April to September, seeing 20 per cent more clients than in the same period of 2019.

“We are pleased we have been able to keep our centres open, despite the pandemic, and are very grateful to all those who have continued to donate to us and to our wonderful volunteers who have kept working in these difficult times.”

The Maldon Food Pantry, a foodbank which operates out of Elim Pentecostal Church, has also seen demand increase since March.

Rev Rob Sefton, who helps run the service, said: “At the moment we’re averaging about 50 parcels a week on a Wednesday and that is an increase of about 35-40 per cent on this time last year.

“I think Covid has been an influence in that increase.

“We’ve been coping very well. The only change in what we do is, before Covid, people used to come in with a lot of physical donations of food. But because people have not been able to get out and about, they’ve been giving us donations in financial help.

“We haven’t suffered at all with stock – just the opposite, we have been well stocked most of the time because we have the money in the bank to keep us stocked up.”

Mr Sefton thanked the public for the help they have given over the years. He said: “We couldn’t do what we do without their help.”