Food poverty in Glenrothes is so prevalent the town will need a foodbank for at least three years, councillors have heard.
Glenrothes area committee members agreed to provide Glenrothes Foodbank with £35,000 of funding to allow it to appoint a part-time project coordinator to help the charity meet demand.
The position is to be in place for the next three years, however, confirming fears that demand for the service is unlikely to subside in the near future.
Councillor John Beare said: “Every time I speak about foodbanks I probably say the same thing. It is sad that in the 21st Century we need such a facility, but for another three years? It is horrific.
“I just wish that we were not in a situation that we have to provide a foodbank, but if we have to then we have to give it a level of support to make sure that people in Glenrothes are not starving.”
Latest figures show that from December to February, food was distributed to 3,320 people by the Glenrothes Foodbank, a third of these being children. During one four-hour period in February, the charity assisted 61 people, such was the level of demand.
Manned by 35 volunteers, demand is continuing to grow in Glenrothes, prompting the requirement for an employed coordinator to maintain the service.
A Fife Council report stated it is highly unlikely demand for the town’s foodbank will reduce in the near future.
The committee members agreed unanimously to award the funding, with councillor Ian Sloan stating: “In Glenrothes we don’t have a foodbank we have a foodbank plus. It runs well and delivers for the people that use it so we should grant additional funding.”
Fellow councillor Peter Grant said: “I will support this but I don’t think that we should be under any illusions.
“The foodbank is here for the long-term and we should all be ashamed of that.”