The Trussell Trust has defended food banks which have faced a backlash for deciding to close tomorrow for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
The trust supports a nationwide network of food banks, including seven in the North East, some of which have announced they would close on Monday, September 19. This is in line with many businesses and services which will either either close completely or operate a restricted service tomorrow, which has been declared a bank holiday.
But some on social media have questioned the decision. @ikeeyah_ said on Twitter : "How a food bank that serves those in need is closing for the Queen’s funeral on Monday is absolutely absurd," while @l_ippylipez said: "If you're running a food bank and you close it for the funeral of someone who didn't even know you were alive you should be ashamed." @angelos_16 agreed, saying: "Closing a foodbank because of a funeral is one of the dumbest decisions I’ve seen."
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The Trussell Trust said the final decision down to the organisers of each individual facility. Emma Revie, chief executive, told Grocery Gazette : “Food banks in our network run sessions on different days and at different times. Food banks are best placed to make the right decision for their communities and will ensure everyone who needs support can access it as they do with every bank holiday. As each food bank is an independent charity, we’d encourage people who need support to contact their local food bank to check their opening hours.”
Gateshead Foodbank is one of many throughout the country to have announced its closure. A statement online read: “Please note Gateshead Foodbank Distribution and Warehouse sessions will be closed on Monday 19th September In respect of the National day of mourning for HRH Queen Elizabeth 11.”
Elsewhere, Sunderland and County Durham Foodbank also confirmed its distribution centres and warehouse will also be closed on Monday. They have centres in Sunderland, Washington and County Durham.
However, some food banks have come under criticism for announcing their plans to close for the day, with the Trussell Trust’s Wimbledon, London, branch being forced to making a U-turn following its initial statement which said: “we have decided to allow our staff and workers the opportunity to show their respects”. It has since deleted that announcement and said it will be open on Monday after it received “overwhelming support”
According to the Trussell Trust’s most recent figures, 2.1 million emergency food packages were distributed between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, 832,000 of them to children. This is an increase of 14% compared to the same period in 2019/20.
Lidl, Morrisons, Iceland, Co-op, M&S and Aldi branches will be closed all day and Asda supermarkets will be open only after 5pm. Large Tesco and Sainsbury's stores will be shut all day but from 5pm onwards Sainsbury's Local and Tesco Express branches will be open. Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco will close petrol station forecourts before 5pm though some will open afterwards.
Other retailers shutting for the day include John Lewis, House of Fraser, Argos, B&Q, Currys, Homebase, Jack Wills, Primark, Specsavers, Lakeland, Wickes, IKEA, Dunelm and Wilko. JD Wetherspoon has said most of its pubs will open later than usual, after the funeral finishes. McDonald’s will shut all UK restaurants until 5pm and Pizza Hut's will be closed until 4pm. Greggs bakeries will close for the day. Most Costa Coffee branches will be shut.
Cinema chains Odeon, Cineworld and Showcase will be shut. Vue cinemas will not show films but some locations , including Gateshead, Cramlington and Hartlepool, will broadcast the funeral for free.
The funeral will take place at 11am tomorrow at Westminster Abbey. The public was earlier today been told not to set off to queue for the Queen's lying-in-state in the Palace of Westminster as those at the end face a 13.5 hour wait in advance of the palace closing at 6.30am tomorrow morning. More than 200,000 people queued to see the Queen Mother lying in state in 2002 and millions are expected to see the Queen.
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