Hundreds of cans of baked beans have been donated to a local food bank after being used as part of a political protest last week.
Members of new political movement Value Jersey stacked 200 cans outside the States Chamber during the Budget debate last week as a symbolic protest against what the group described as the Government “kicking the can down the road” on long-term economic and financial planning.
This week, the group delivered the tins to the St Vincent de Paul Jersey food bank, saying the donation was intended both to support families struggling with rising living costs and to highlight what they see as the absence of a credible plan to address Jersey’s economic challenges.
Value Jersey member Rowland Huelin said: “This Christmas, families around the Island are struggling with an increasingly expensive Jersey.
“Food banks have been telling us that the number of people who rely upon them is unprecedented.
“SVP is doing an amazing job on the front line, but we have to fix the underlying issues; Jersey needs to start making more money and our government needs to spend it better.
“This government needs to understand that kicking the can is not a plan.ˮ
Education psychologist Victoria Li said the scale of need did not match the picture she believed was being presented by government.
“It was shocking to hear the real statistics,” she said. “This one food bank alone is supporting around 1,700 individuals.”
President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Jersey, Sinead Wright, said demand for assistance continued to rise across the island.
She explained that the charity, which has operated in Jersey since the late 19th century, currently supports more than 640 households, equating to approximately 1,700 individuals – around 1.7% of the island’s population.
“None of this is possible without the generous donations we receive from those within our community,” she added.
“However, each year our expenditure rises as the number of people across the island we help increases.
“To keep providing the support we do across the island we are constantly in need of donations whether food items or financial support.”
CAN YOU HELP?
More information on suitable food donations for the St Vincent de Paul Jersey food bank can be found online.
Islanders can also contact president@svpjersey.org to offer financial support.