An Aberdeenshire councillor has spoken of her first-hand experience of the vital support food banks provide during the festive period.
West Garioch councillor Victoria Harper’s family had been struggling during the winter of 2009 and received several parcels and a hamper from the Inverurie food bank.
Her husband had been made redundant and they had been skipping meals to make sure she could feed her children.
Mrs Harper said: “We had stopped socialising with our friends and family because we didn’t want them to see how much we were struggling – it’s difficult to admit that you cannot feed your own children – you don’t ever think you will have to face that.
“Our housing officer visited one day and commented that we had both lost weight. She demanded to see inside my kitchen cupboards and when she saw how little was in them she told us about the food bank and that she could refer us.
“At that point I burst into tears – she was like a saviour.
“After receiving help from the food bank – we suddenly became more stable and more confident about asking for help elsewhere.”
This year the Aberdeenshire North Food Bank handed out 500 Christmas hampers to families and individuals in need across the region.
It relies solely on volunteers and food donations from the public to keep going.
But Jeannie Price, manager of the three centres located in Inverurie, Ellon and Huntly, said they weren’t just giving food to families but also “dignity and hope”.
She said: “For some people it will be the only festive cheer that they get.”
Affiliated with the Trussle Trust charity, the food bank has an army of over 50 volunteers who help at the centres, Mrs Price added: “Last year we had a load of chocolates donated so I had stuck one in as a wee extra into one guy’s parcel and he told me later that he had actually wept when he opened the box – it had just made his day so much better.
“Often our interaction is really valuable – we are sometimes the only company some people get from week to week. We are here to give help and support; it’s not just about feeding people.
“We give back some dignity and hope.”