HIGHBRIDGE Area Foodbank is set for a busy Christmas as figures from the Trussell Trust reveal a 45 per cent increase in the amount of three day emergency food supplies given by foodbanks in 2015/16.

The foodbank will brace for their busiest month as Christmas approaches after figures collected by the University of Hull show over the last five years there is a seasonal spike in emergency food parcel distribution. 

The Trussell Trust is calling on the public to help families facing hunger this Christmas as foodbanks busiest month of the year begins.

Newly released figures reveal that during December 2015, The Trussell Trust’s foodbank network provided 133,734 three day emergency food supplies to people in crisis; 56,779 of these went to children.

This is a 45% increase on the monthly average of three day emergency supplies provided in the 2015/16 financial year, which was 92,442. 

Many Trussell Trust foodbanks will already be providing seasonal extras to people referred to them for emergency food, such as festive food hampers alongside the standard three day food parcel or toys and presents for children.

Foodbanks are also increasingly offering people support with fuel costs through fuelbanks or fuel voucher schemes, and some even offer warm clothing or blankets to help people fighting the cold.

Adrian Curtis, Foodbank Network Director at The Trussell Trust said:“Trussell Trust foodbanks have always reported that they provide more support to people in winter, and we anticipate being exceptionally busy again this year.

Last year, one mum at a Trussell Trust foodbank on Christmas Eve burst into tears when the volunteers gave her a teddy bear to give to her young son alongside emergency food; she thought she wouldn’t be able to give him anything for Christmas, and the foodbank was able to provide her family with hope, as well as food for her family.

Sadly, this mum is far from alone. This could be the foodbank network’s busiest Christmas yet, so we would really value any support you can offer as we help stop families and individuals from going hungry this Christmas.”

To make a donation to The Trussell Trust or find out how to help a local foodbank, please visit www.trusselltrust.org