Coronavirus: Food banks in crisis as £1bn panic-buying spree leaves families facing ‘real hunger’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} “Real hunger” is affecting Britons on a scale not seen in decades as food banks are hit by the dual impact of soaring demand and dwindling supplies due to panic buying sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, charities have warned. Schools have closed, and although vulnerable children are allowed back in, there are others who we know don’t get good food provision in the holidays.” Discussions are said to be taking place between the government and supermarkets about whether food banks might be able to access supplies before shops open to the wider public, or be made exempt from purchase restrictions. Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, the UK’s largest network of food banks, said the lack of food on supermarket shelves was a “huge issue” for the charity’s service providers. Ask local food banks and see what they need.” Bob Ashford, chair of trustees at Fair Frome, a Somerset-based charity which runs a food bank, said demand had “spiralled” over the past week, with the number of people collecting food parcels up around fourfold.