The number of Dundonians relying on foodbanks doubled over the festive period.
Some 118 people had to get by on tinned and dry food given to them by Dundee Foodbank in the three days running up to Christmas.
In the week before Christmas, 285 people were assisted by the charity, more than double the amount for the average week.
The Taught By Muhammad foodbank received 14 referrals two days before Christmas, also double the usual number.
David Morris, manager at Dundee Foodbank, said: “We’ve been very busy. Christmas is a time when there is added pressure to provide for the family.
“It feels much worse to be struggling at Christmas than any other time of year.
“From December 8-28 we had 285 referrals. One referral could be a single person or a whole family.
“Between December 8 and 14 we had 92 referrals and helped 160 people.
“During the week beginning December 15 there were 132 referrals, helping 285 people and in the three days leading up to Christmas we had 61 referrals, helping 118 people.
“On a normal week we would have 80 to 85 referrals, helping 130 to 140 people.”
The added pressure of providing extra food for children who are off from school or money spent on Christmas gifts or heating bills can see people needing to use foodbanks. But Dundonians have proved generous, with one man alone donating 100 tins of food.
Taught by Muhammad has seen city families forced to choose between heating their homes and eating.
Coordinator Rizwan Rafik said: “A lot of people don’t realise the scale of poverty going on right on their doorstep.”