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Donations needed: Can you help this Highland soup kitchen?

Beth Campbell from Hope Kitchen wants more people in the community to know what the Oban cafe can do to help during the cost-of-living crisis. Supplied.
Beth Campbell from Hope Kitchen wants more people in the community to know what the Oban cafe can do to help during the cost-of-living crisis. Supplied.

A surge in demand for food parcels has left a Highland soup kitchen asking people to donate tins.

Hope Kitchen in Oban serves food and provides shelter to vulnerable people at its Argyll Street premises.

It also hands out parcels from its food bank to those in need.

The charity is running a “Take in a Tin” campaign throughout April as it tries to replenish stocks and cope with demand.

Lorraine MacCormick, the service manager, believes the pressure on food banks is part of a national trend.

There has also been a huge increase in people using the Lochaber Food Bank in Fort William.

Mrs MacCormick said: “In January we did 25 food parcels. In February we did 36. February just about cleaned us out. In February we fed 93 people. In January it was 52 people.

“I don’t know why February was so busy. January is a tough month for people, we expected to be busy in January, but for some reason people were really stuck in February.

“To be honest I think it is part of a national trend. Food banks have been on the increase. People are using them more and more.

“Oban has a big population of seasonal workers and over the winter time demand goes up and up. It came down a bit in March.”

Alex McConachie, manager of the Lochaber Food Bank, said: “In 2015/16 we fed 601 people. In 2016/17 it was 828. That is a massive increase.

“It is mainly down to benefit delays and low incomes. Fort William, like Oban, has a lot of hotel work, which can be low paid and short hours, mainly part time. We have noticed an increase in young families using the food bank.”

Parcels handed out in Oban in February included six to homeless people, two to people in poor health, three for seasonal workers, six went to members of the travelling community.

They also get referrals from housing support organisations for people who are struggling to pay their bills.