A foodbank serving Goole and surrounding villages in East Yorkshire is shutting down after operating for 16 years, with the closure driven by mounting expenses and declining financial support. According to BBC News, the Mission Trinity Foodbank will continue operating until January before ceasing activities. The facility has been a lifeline for approximately 50 to 60 families and individuals each week.
Established as part of a local Methodist church initiative to assist homeless people and those experiencing financial hardship, the foodbank has faced mounting pressure from the cost of living crisis. Founder David Sample, who transitioned from a paid church position to running the operation as a volunteer after redundancy, explained the difficult circumstances leading to closure.
Why are donations falling?
The foodbank's financial position has deteriorated significantly over recent years. Sample stated:
Over time our funds have declined and declined, to the point where we can't really afford to keep going much longer, and also because of this cost of living crisis that's going on at the moment.The organisation has been forced to purchase food supplies up to three times weekly to meet demand, straining already depleted reserves.
We've had to go out and buy more food with our funds, so we've been spending an awful lot more just to keep the basics in,Sample explained.
The closure reflects a broader pattern affecting food banks across the United Kingdom. Food bank managers in Northern Ireland have warned of potential closures as donations fall and costs rise, with some centres reporting only weeks of funding remaining. Similarly, volunteers at a Sheffield food pantry have warned they may have to close unless donations increase, despite experiencing surging demand for their services.
What has the foodbank achieved?
Over its 16-year existence, the Mission Trinity Foodbank has provided essential support to vulnerable residents. Sample characterised his tenure as a
rollercoaster, describing both challenging periods and deeply rewarding moments. He recounted encounters with individuals facing profound personal crises:
We've encountered people struggling with grief and their world falling in around about them, and they've come to us for help. We've done what we do and a couple of years later, they've been back and brought us stuff, so it's been very good that way.
The foodbank's work has been supported by a dedicated team of volunteers. According to local reporting, volunteers including Ken Pepper, Dave Sample, Dave Gale, Tracey James and Ben Hardiman have been instrumental in running the operation. Sample expressed gratitude for their contributions, describing them as
unbelievablein their dedication.
What support has the foodbank received?
The organisation has benefited from community backing over the years. In September 2024, the Garlthorpe Charity donated £1,000 to the foodbank, and three new donation collection points opened in Barmby on the Marsh, Asselby and Howden. However, such support has not been sufficient to sustain operations amid rising food costs and reduced charitable contributions.
What happens next?
Sample expressed hope that someone might come forward to take over the foodbank's operations, though he acknowledged the significant challenge of securing new funding streams.
He said he would be happy if someone came forward to take on the foodbank, but they would need to find new funding streams to keep operating the project.The closure will leave residents of Goole and surrounding villages without this established support network, at a time when food insecurity remains a pressing concern across the region.
