Coventry Foodbank is appealing for urgent items as well as the usual chocolate eggs this Easter as they record the second ever busiest year for the service.

Volunteers are calling for people to donate the most-needed items as well as the eggs to keep pace with escalating demand as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.

Between January 2022 and January 2023, the charity has been called on to feed nearly 30,000 people across the city, an increase from approximately 500 per week to 700 per week.

In February this year alone there were six tonnes more food given out than was received by the Foodbank.

Director of Feed The Hungry, Gavin Kibble MBE said: “Over the years we have built up stock levels at the warehouse and normally hold around 80 to 100 tons of food in our racking. However, they tend to be large stocks of Pasta, Baked Beans and Cereal. There is always a tension between items that we have large stocks of and regular shortages such as UHT milk, cooking sauces, tomatoes, coffee and Jam, which we have to purchase.

“Unfortunately demand for our standard food parcels is still increasing and at the moment we are not getting enough coming in to be able to supply the growing needs of so many people across the city.”

He added: “Every year at Easter kind-hearted people send us chocolate eggs to include in our food parcels. While these are greatly appreciated, this year we’re seeing a greater need for the basics due to a continuing poverty fatigue being felt across the country.

“So we would ask please that, as well as considering giving us chocolate eggs this Easter, please at the same time donate items for our standard food parcels or donate cash to Coventry Foodbank.”

The most urgently needed items are fruit juice, UHT milk, jam, cooking sauce, tinned tomatoes and tinned vegetables.

Coventry Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks, was established in January 2011 and is one of the largest of more than 420 foodbanks in the UK.

They partner with a wide range of care professionals who identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.

Food donations can be made at the Coventry warehouse in Progress Way, Binley, Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4pm.

There are also collection points at: Tesco Cannon Park; Tesco Clifford Bridge Road, Tesco Crosspoint and Tesco Arena; Asda Walsgrave and Asda Abbey Park; Morrisons Binley and Morrisons Holyhead Road; Sainsbury Courthouse Green; Sainsbury’s Trinity Street and Sainsbury’s Canley; Lidl Binley Road, Lidl Foleshill Road and Lidl Brandon Road; Aldi Radford Road and Aldi Gallagher Park; CO-OP Earlsdon and CO-OP Fairfax Street; Warwick University Rootes Grocery Store.

To find further information or make cash donations visit: coventry.foodbank.org.uk