Angus Foodbank is delivering a record number of emergency parcels to people in crisis, it has emerged.
But alarmingly, its manager Alf Collington warned the roll-out of the Government’s new flagship benefit scheme could make matters even worse.
Mr Collington told The Courier that more than 2,300 people have been fed by local volunteers since October 2012 including 540 children in Angus.
During that same period, Angus Foodbank distributed 21 tons of food to those most in need and the figures keep shooting up. In April, 104 people a month were given food parcels, which rose to 136 in July before jumping up to 146 last month.
Mr Collington said the numbers were rising because of greater demand but also because people are now more aware of the service.
“We are feeding more people every month,” said Mr Collington, who joined up in May after previously working in Falkirk.
“We are now feeding close to 150 people a month and we have 890 square miles to cover.”
The service operates from headquarters in Forfar with bases in Kirriemuir, Brechin and Montrose.
There is also a delivery service and Mr Collington said the whole ethos is to make it more accessible for those in the greatest need.
“When you start up it takes a while for word to spread and to build a confidence with agencies,” he said.
“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. We actually feed families who have someone who works because they are on such a low income.”
Mr Collington said he fears things will get worse once Universal Credit is rolled out.
Universal Credit is a new single benefit that will eventually replace many existing means-tested benefits and tax credits.
It is expected that Universal Credit will cover all benefit claims by 2017.
Jobcentre Plus normally pays Universal Credit (UC) into a bank account or other type of account, for example, a building society account.
“It is going to get worse as Universal Credit is rolled out where they pay all the money to the client,” he added. “I think we are going to have more problems because if you have some poor person who has probably never had a four-figure sum paid into their bank account once a month in their life it’s what they do with it.”
Guild Homes in Forfar recently presented the charity with £2,000 towards the purchase of a new bus.
Mr Collington said getting a bus would be a big help in being able to deliver to more people especially those who cannot afford to get to the foodbank depots in Angus.