Brightlingsea Foodbank is asking residents for additional support to help provide some festive fayre for its clients as Christmas approaches.

The Foodbank says it has seen a 200% increase in the use of its services during the pandemic and is expecting even more demand as fuel and food prices rise.

“At Christmas time we like to add an extra festive bag containing Christmassy foods to our food packs that hopefully will help our families and people on their own in crisis to enjoy Christmas,” said a Foodbank statement. “The community of Brightlingsea has always been our biggest supporters and have generously donated food and money to help us with our work.”
A list of the sort of items required is below. Donations – either food or money – can be dropped off to the Parish Hall in Victoria Place on Wednesdays between 10am and midday until the November 30.

• Tins or boxes of sweets or chocolates
• Boxes or packets of festive biscuits and shortbread
• Savoury biscuits and flatbreads
• Jars of pickle and chutney
• Tinned fruit
• Christmas puddings (some nut free & gluten free appreciated)
• Small Christmas cakes and mince pies, stollen or panettone
• Crisps or any other ‘nibbles’
• Tinned ham (the pear-shaped ones if possible)
• Tinned red or pink salmon
• Tinned chicken in white sauce