The most vulnerable people in Angus and the Mearns are heading into a festive period “reminiscent of Victorian days”, it has been claimed.
Foodbank use across the area has swelled over the past two years and beleaguered projects are looking at winter scenes comparable to the novels of Charles Dickens, according to campaigners.
Nigel Don MSP believes foodbank use is tied to benefits changes across the UK, and said he was “shocked” at how quickly this has changed personal circumstances and in some unexpected areas.
“I find it wholly unacceptable that there are folk in my constituency, or actually anywhere else in this country, who are so desperate that they are effectively begging for food,” he said.
Mr Don’s show of disgust came as the Archbishop of Canterbury registered his view that hunger in some parts of the country are more shocking than in the poorest parts of Africa.
“This is not just about low pay but research indicates that it is predominately about the way in which the welfare system has been messed around with by the UK Government,” he said.
“I recognise that there are some lazy individuals around and the welfare system has to distinguish between applicants but what we are witnessing is a wholesale disregard for humanity and of course it is women and children and the disabled who suffer most.
“Frankly this is a disgraceful state of affairs, reminiscent of Victorian days.”
Over the course of the 2013-14 financial year, a total of 1,238 people in Angus including 276 children were forced to seek help from foodbanks in the county.
It is estimated more than 3,000 people have been fed by local volunteers since October 2012 including 540 children in Angus.
In the Mearns, Inverbervie’s foodbank was set up in September and as such has no comparable records but manager Caroll Evans said the service has hit the ground running with three donation bins situated around town, which have been sponsored by local businesses.
There is also a foodbank collection site with emergency food boxes housed in the paper shop.
Angus Foodbank operates from headquarters in Forfar with bases in Kirriemuir, Brechin and Montrose.
Its manager, Alf Collington, said working families are approaching them for help.
“We are feeding more people every month,” said Mr Collington, who joined up in May after working in Falkirk.
“These people are very vulnerable but we are not here to judge. We have never had an abusive or a bad client.
“People are so grateful to receive food. Originally foodbanks only fed people three times but that is having to change. Around 60% of our clients suffer from benefit delays, benefit changes and low income.”
According to the Trussell Trust, 6,671 people have used a foodbank in Scotland in the past year and, although the number attending because of benefit delays or changes has remained largely static, there has been an increase from 13% to 18% in people who have been left desperate because of low income.