Ealing Foodbank hit an 'important but sad' milestone this month when they served their 100,000th client since opening eight years ago.

The volunteer service has now served over 100,000 clients, a total the charity said no-one could have foreseen when it was established in autumn 2013.

Ealing Foodbank provides emergency food to people living in the Borough of Ealing, who are referred to them by partner organisations.

"It still beggars belief that in this Borough, in this city, in this country at this time there should be so many people in poverty and demand for our food support services so high," said Janet Fletcher, Foodbank Manager.

"When a group of Ealing churches agreed to establish the Foodbank, it was a common assumption that while it was required due to the effects of austerity, the mere idea of a Foodbank having an extended life and becoming 'part of the furniture' was never envisaged."

From April 2020 to March 2021 the foodbank supplied over 38,000 clients with three-day food packages.

Janet said demand had fallen slightly since April this year, compared to last year, but they are still running at double the levels of demand seen pre-pandemic.

Ealing Foodbank said the continuing effects of the first austerity, the introduction of the Universal Credit benefit system, followed by the enduring effects of the first year of the pandemic have strongly driven demand from local people who are in hardship and unable to afford food.

Janet added: "The Foodbank is only effective in helping local people in food crisis through the generosity of our donors, both of food and financially: from individuals to businesses, from church and social groups to Ealing Council, our partner supermarkets and referral partners.

"Then there are our fantastic, dedicated volunteers, who have always been there and lately learned to deal with whole new safe operating systems during the pandemic.

"We should be, and are, very grateful to all of them."

Looking forward, Janet is positive about the future.

She said: "Though circumstances look grim at the moment, there is a growing movement amongst society regarding poverty and inequality, which one has to hope will lead to changes in government attitudes and policy, which is the only way this country can eradicate poverty on the scale at which it now exists.

"Until then, the Foodbank will be there to support local people in crisis."

As the pandemic restrictions have eased, Ealing Foodbank has reopened its Client Centres in Acton, Greenford, Northolt, Perivale and Southall which has eased pressure on the main centre and warehouse in Hanwell.

Opening times and other information on how to contact and access the Foodbank can be found on their website.

Find information on how and where to make donations, here.