Deputy donates to the foodbank which “shouldn’t have to exist at all”

Pictured left to right: Father Tom Davis and Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE

The campaigner who organised the world’s first COVID-19 clinic for the homeless has now injected a whole year’s grant into a food pantry – even though he finds their existence, “appalling.”

Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE handed over his Deputy Mayoral Allowance to the Oldham Foodbank in a bid to keep them afloat as food supplies dwindle and demand soars.

But he also wants the gesture to spur Government into action to create the kind of society where no one, including hardworking low-paid workers, has to rely on donations to feed their family.

“As if it wasn't bad enough that 93% of foodbanks have reported a surge in users over the last few months, now 80% of them are struggling to get in enough supplies to feed people” said Dr Chauhan. “Whilst I cannot put into words the love and respect I have for all foodbank volunteers, it shouldn’t be the case in a developed, resource-rich country that people are having to turn to food pantries in order to survive. We must serve-up a portion of awareness with our kindness.”

As a health campaigner, Dr Chauhan has seen a steady increase in the kinds of physical and mental health conditions that are often associated with poverty and is seriously concerned that people could freeze and starve when fuel bill hikes kick-in. “Everything from depression to malnutrition is on my daily schedule now” he continued, “this is following a pandemic that has stretched NHS services to breaking point. Allied to the impending crisis of ill-health, the Government has decimated primary care so there will not be the doctors to treat it.”

Amongst those visiting food pantries recently are serving nurses and police officers. Said Dr Chauhan: “This is worrying in the extreme. Their concentration, stamina and mental health must be affected.”

Father Tom Davis began the Oldham Foodbank after a bag of food was left on his doorstep for the needy. He has since seen it develop into two large warehouses, serving 1000 meals per month. Previously known as the Pot Noodle Priest because he would often feed those who visited him, Father Tom said: “Where food poverty was confined to certain parts of Oldham, now the whole borough is experiencing it. The Foodbank now has to buy its own products because donations cannot meet the need and we are grateful to people like Dr Chauhan for keeping us going.

Oldham Foodbank does deliveries only because people can feel embarrassed, though they needn’t. This is a gift to help them feed their children. We have 80 volunteers but need more help, particularly from drivers.

But we have reached the point where the poor of Oldham are feeding the poorest of Oldham.”

Whilst damning of the need for foodbanks, Dr Chauhan praised those who donate hours of their time to stocking shelves and transporting food but most of all, for being there for those in greatest need. “I have read cases of people literally weeping when visiting a foodbank for the first time. You should never be ashamed to ask for help, but some must feel a sense of wounded pride at having to use a foodbank. They are also living with a mountain of worries, especially if they have children or other dependents. I see nothing but kindness when I speak to the volunteers and a roll-your-sleeves-up attitude to tackling poverty.

My question to Government is, “why can’t you do the same”? That your compatriots should be facing the same issues as a developing country ought to fill you with shame and be the catalyst for a proper levelling-up drive where people do not have to rely on the charity of strangers for the most basic necessity of all – food.”

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