Foodbank officials have issued a desperate plea for people to make donations to support families struggling to feed their children over the summer holidays.
Wendy White, 51, a co-ordinator at the Hope Centre, in Southchurch Drive, explained it was a hard time for some parents over the five-week holiday period because free school meals weren't an option.
Speaking on Friday (July 26), Ms White, of Clifton, said: "Families are off for five weeks, that's five weeks without the support of free school meals.
"If you have got a lot of children within the family it's a lot of money, especially with a budget.
"We are asking for donations of anything. If so, you can support children over the holidays."
Sought after items include cereal, fruit juice, UHT milk, tinned tomatoes, rice and tinned fruit and vegetables.
Ms White said people shouldn't be embarrassed to seek the help of local foodbanks.
Anyone struggling should go to a local advice centre to receive a foodbank voucher, she said.
"If anyone is struggling that has got children, please go to your local advice centre, taken written proof of ID - ie an up-to-date bank statement.
"People do not need to struggle. Do not be embarrassed, that's what foodbanks are for, to help people in crisis.
"If people are in a crisis, and are being genuine, they will get the help they need."
The Hope Centre is part of the Trussell Trust and serves the NG11 area.
People can make donations during the week but the foodbank is closed on a Monday.
Those in need can receive items on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.
Figures, provided by the Trussell Trust, show there was an increase in the amount of emergency food parcels handed to children across the East Midlands last summer compared to the year before.
Up to 2,832 food parcels went to children last year, 20 percent up from 2017.
The Trussell Trust’s chief executive, Emma Revie, said: “Foodbanks will do all they can to help families over the summer, with many running holiday clubs to support parents who find that their income simply won’t stretch to meet the extra pressure of missing free school meals or paying for additional childcare during the holidays.
"But no charity can replace the dignity of having enough money for the basics.
“While it’s great to see schemes in place to tackle holiday hunger, foodbanks and other emergency food provision cannot, and must not, be a long-term solution to poverty.
"Ultimately, we should all be protected from needing a foodbank’s help, no matter the time of the year.
“If we are to end hunger in the East Midlands, we need to make sure everyone is anchored from being swept into poverty.
"The Government needs to ensure benefit payments reflect the true cost of living and work is secure, paying the real Living Wage.
"Every family should have enough money coming in for a decent standard of living. No child should face going hungry in the UK.”
