An initiative has been launched asking residents to donate to their local food bank the ‘free’ item they get in ‘buy one, get one free’ grocery promotions.

Set up by funeral director DC Poulton & Sons to aid the soon-to-launch Uttlesford Foodbank, the Buy One, Give One initiative aims to encourage people to donate to the charity all year round.

The Uttlesford Foodbank, which officially opens on June 9, is being started as a way of providing vital supplies to residents and families in need.

Following a referral by an official source such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Jobcentre, local churches or support agencies, those in need are given a voucher that they can redeem for three days’ worth of food.

Funeral arranger Laura Halsey explains why the Chapel Hill-based branch has launched the campaign in Stansted.

“During particular periods such as Christmas, the attention turns to the great work that food banks do across the country, helping to drive donations.

“But in today’s society, with the increasing reliance on food banks, it’s very important that awareness is raised throughout the year,” she said.

“While the Salvation Army has been distributing food parcels locally for a number of years, the demand for help is rapidly growing.

“The launch of the Uttlesford Foodbank will help to meet this need but it can only be successful if the community get behind it.

“We hope our Buy One, Give One campaign will raise awareness of the new food bank and encourage people to make a donation.”

The latest 2013–14 figures released by The Trussell Trust, a charity that operates 345 food banks across the UK, including the Uttlesford Foodbank, highlighted how the number of people relying on food banks has increased by 163 per cent since 2012–13. Nearly one million Britons received three days’ emergency food from The Trussell Trust food banks in 2013–14.

The food bank is in need of tinned food, dried food like rice and pasta, sauces in jars, instant mash, UHT milk, sugar, tea and coffee, and biscuits and snack bars.

Other donations of non-perishable food are very welcome, and toiletries, including nappies, are also in short supply. Any items donated need to have a good ‘best before’ date and be in sealed, undamaged packaging.

Residents who would like to make a donation to the Uttlesford Foodbank can drop off items at DC Poulton & Sons, 2 Chapel Hill, Stansted or call 01279 813219 for information.