Highland Foodbank is urging the community not to forget them after the festive spotlight dims.
The food bank, which is part of The Trussell Trust’s UK-wide foodbank network, provides aid to struggling families by giving them supplies for three days at time..
Since opening in 2005, the Blythswood charity estimates it has fed more than 60,000 people. Records show 2018 was its busiest year so far, with more than 7,000 fed across the 12 months and 50 tonnes of food distributed.
Blythswood said the Highland Foodbank is experiencing an increase of 20% year-on-year and relies heavily on the hard work of 130 trusty volunteers across its seven locations to ensure the £100,000 per year operation is allowed to flourish.
However, on the back of a successful reverse advent appeal for food items, the aid centre is urging locals not to forget them once the festive period is over.
Lorna Dempster, who oversees the operation at the Glebe Street premise in Inverness, said there are 15 referrals every day the centre is open during the festive period.
She said: “There has been a huge response from the reverse advent calendar, even prior to the end of advent, which has just been fantastic.
“I think at Christmas time people want to do something practical and food banks are a good way to do that without it costing masses. People can pick one or two things from the advent calendar and some people have done four advent calendars so it just varies but people have been incredibly generous.
“The food that we have in will see us quite well into the new year, so it will be spring and summer when our stocks are at their lowest.”
Mrs Dempster praised the volunteers who keep the foodbanks running throughout the year, backing up the three full-time and two part-time staff members.
“We couldn’t provide the service we do without volunteers who come in every week to sort the food or to sit and chat with clients,” she said.
“We’re just asking people to keep us in mind throughout the year. Foodbank is not just for Christmas. It is an all-year-round means of support.
“It’s all about providing that short term measure of support to people who are in crisis and nobody should go without food within that crisis period. That is a basic need for living, food, and if people have food then they can deal with so many other things easier.”
Food donations – except beans, pasta and soup, where are already in surplus stocks – or financial support – can be made throughout the year. Prospective volunteers should also get in touch with the team directly.