Food banks in Fife are preparing for what is expected to be their busiest Christmas yet.
Volunteers who distribute emergency supplies expect to see a spike in the number of people turning to them as the demands of the festive period pushes them over the brink.
Revealing it had recently handed out its 10,000th food parcel since it opened three years ago, Dunfermline Foodbank confirmed it is among several local lifelines stocking shelves and ready to come to the rescue of those in food poverty.
Levenmouth Foodbank collected in Leven’s Sainsbury’s over the weekend and others, including those in Cupar and Glenrothes, have been taking in donations.
Dunfermline Foodbank chairman John Drylie said family budgets are under such stress at what should be a joyful time of year that, for some, the cupboard is left bare afterwards. He said: “We tend to see the problems after Christmas and into the new year. People stretch themselves to the limit and then find it hard. They are waiting for their next pay cheque to come, they have overspent on Christmas and there is nothing left.
“A lot of pressure is put on people at Christmas, especially those with families. They try to budget but it is the unexpected crisis. All it takes is one small breakdown in the home, one bill they are not expecting.”
Mr Drylie said families, single parents and people living alone are often at their lowest ebb when they turn to a food bank for help, but the kindness of volunteers can often lift their spirits. He said: “Their dignity is at rock bottom, they feel embarrassed coming to us, but we are here to help, we’re not here to judge.”
During a recent collection, he said, a tonne of food was handed in in two hours double what would normally be expected. He said: “The public throughout the year are amazing but in the lead-up to Christmas it has been unbelievable.”
The Trussell Trust supports food banks around the UK. Its chief executive officer, David McAuley, said: “Food bank use is likely to rise significantly over the winter months and we’re anticipating that it could peak at the highest level yet this Christmas.”
Picture by David Wardle