A 64-year-old woman in Boston, Lincolnshire, says she often has nothing but “a packet of soup and a bit of bread” for dinner because her bills leave her with no money for food. Carol Kemp is among a growing number of people relying on free hot meals from the Centenary Methodist Church, where demand has surged by about 50% since the start of the year.
Joanna Criddle, who runs the community meal service, said the number of diners rose from around 60 to over 90 in January and February. “People are a bit short of money after Christmas, they’ve got the heating on longer as well,” she explained. “There is help available, but it’s not always easy to find it or to admit that you need help.”
Kemp described her situation as “really sad”. She attends the cafe twice a week and then turns to friends for extra food. “I shouldn’t be doing that. It’s horrible,” she said.
The cafe, which started offering meals to homeless people during the pandemic, now serves the wider community. Single dad Scott, 36, said he lives “from pay check to pay check”, with rising petrol and energy costs eating into his budget. The cafe provides him with a “good home-cooked meal” and a chance to socialise.
Audrey Burrell, a 90-year-old widow and former volunteer, said she comes to combat loneliness. “I’m a bit of a person who worries about things. I come here to talk them over with other people,” she said.
Criddle emphasized that everyone is welcome and there is “no stigma”. The cafe is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 09:30 to 13:00 BST.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “This government is determined to turn the tide on poverty after years of rising hardship. Our recent statistics show that effort is beginning to make a difference – household incomes have risen 5% in real terms, food bank usage has fallen and food insecurity is down. Our £1bn multi-year crisis and resilience fund will give local authorities the certainty to help prevent households from falling into crisis and this can be used to support food banks.”