A charity striving to feed the homeless in Canterbury during the coronavirus crisis says it is running out of food and funding.

Catching Lives is now providing 165 meals a day to those who are forced to live on the city’s streets or who are in temporary housing - an increase of up to 80%.

The charity has been forced to close its day centre, where many of its clients would normally eat, because of social distancing rules.

Volunteer co-ordinator Simon Rice said: “Taking into account the meals also require packaging for takeaway at an additional cost, the strain on our budget for the foreseeable future is considerable.

“This has had a significant impact on our stocks of donated food, as we slowly but steadily make our way through tinned and dried food reserves which will need to be topped up before long.

“We are still receiving fresh food from supermarkets but we do not know how long this will continue in the long-term, and cannot accept public donations.

“We need to act now, to ensure we do not find ourselves in the position where we do not have enough food to provide this lifeline at an extremely difficult time for homeless people.

“We are receiving some funding from the city council, but as an independent charity that relies on the financial support of the community, the additional strain on our limited budget for such an unforeseen period is considerable.

“We are asking for any financial donations people can provide to help us continue to provide these meals,” he said. “A donation of £3 will allow us to provide three meals for one day for a homeless person.

“We are totally independent and donations to other local charities will not come to us, as some people wrongly assume.”

The charity has set up a special fundraising page and is asking supporters to spread awareness of it financial plight.

To make a donation, click here.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

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