The chairman of East Kilbride foodbank Loaves and Fishes fears the worst is yet to come.
Community champion Denis Curran MBE said around 300 food parcels were distributed over the Christmas period with over 200 toy and toiletries parcels also prepared and collected.
And he said this is up more than 150 food parcels on last year.
And they were also handing-out 85 to 90 emergency parcels a day.
Dedicated volunteers also put in 12-hour shifts nine days in a row to make sure those who needed help the most weren’t left empty handed over the festive period.
But Denis said the generosity of people in East Kilbride once again overwhelmed volunteers and that without folk in East Kilbride the picture would be far bleaker.
Loaves and Fishes were one of a number of organisations who rose to the ever increasing challenge with over 300 Christmas boxes handed out by East Kilbride Community Foodbank and 2,000 gifts distributed across East Kilbride thanks to the town’s Christmas Kindness campaign.
Denis told the News : “It’s as bad as I’ve ever seen it and it can’t all be blamed on Covid – although that is undoubtedly part of it.
“No one wants to go to a food bank but when you are struggling you will go anywhere to put food on the table – especially at Christmas. People are humiliated and come to us breaking their hearts.
“It is a condemnation on society today and when Covid is finally over and done a lot of people may not have jobs to go back to so it’s only going to get worse.
“And with a further lockdown this month people already struggling are going to find things even tougher. The solution – stop cutting benefits and give people enough to live properly on and their dignity back. And end these zero-hour contracts. How is anyone supposed to plan when they don’t know what they will be working from one week to the next.”
But Denis, who is supported by wife Cathie and daughter-in-law Kimm in running the food bank, said he was astounded by how the public and his team rallied round.
“I just want to thank everyone, especially school children who supported us,” he went on.
“I missed not being able to talk to them and it’s a privilege to be invited to schools.
“The children have such in sight to what’s happening in EK and play such big part urging parents to donate.”
