EMERGENCY funds are needed for a foodbank to deal with the increased demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

A crowdfunding page has been set up by the Slough Foodbank for volunteers to buy food for the most needy and vulnerable as they have seen a drop in donations in essential items but have seen a high demand in people needing help.

Food and other essentials that the busy foodbank includes in their packs for people in food poverty have become more difficult and expensive to find due to price hikes in some stores and panic buying.

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The independent charity, which opened in 2010 and is supported by churches and community groups, said they have lost 35 per cent of their volunteers for a variety of reasons, but some were considered ‘at risk’ of getting the coronavirus.

The organisation has so far made £120 out of its £5,000 target and the crowdfunding page will run until April 20.

Sue Sibany-King, manager of Slough Foodbank, said: “It is crazy, but we are committed to still supporting people in food poverty as best we can.

“It’s a bit of a military type operation to get the parcels pre-packed and handed out to clients outside the building whilst maintaining safe distancing, using protective gloves.

“All this whilst still maintaining our voucher process and referral only system, albeit modified to fit the remote working and not handling anything wherever possible new climate.

“Last week we doubled our normal busy weeks so are running low on food and toiletry stocks coupled with the change in shopping procedures meaning less donations coming in.”

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If you would like to donate to the foodbank, the crowdfund website can be found here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sloughfoodbank

You can also donate food directly to the Slough foodbank at 411 Montrose Avenue, Slough, SL1 4TJ, but be mindful of social distancing enforced by government.