DONATIONS to Inverclyde Foodbank have dropped by almost half in the last six months at the same time as the centre sees demand for its services rise by more than a third.
According to figures from the Trussell Trust, the foodbank on West Stewart Street handed out 7,333 emergency food parcels between April 2022 and March 2023. This was up on the 5,386 given out in 2021/22.
The pressure caused by the rise in demand has been compounded by the fact that donations have plummeted, causing the foodbank to purchase more stock to continue serving the community.
In September 2022, the facility received 5,220kg in donations, buying in a further 58kg.
An influx of donations was received around Christmastime – a total of 12,918kg – meaning no stock purchases were required.
By March this year, the foodbank was purchasing 1,204.5kg after accepting 2997.3kg in donations.
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Adam Wines, manager of the foodbank, said: “There’s a few churches around here who support us every week. But apart from that, it’s quietened down a bit.
“It’s surprising how much stuff is going out compared to how much is coming in.”
Despite this decline in donations and rise in demand, Adam is still encouraging those who need support from his team of volunteers to drop in.
He added: “It can get quite busy sometimes.
“I was off a couple of weeks back and we had 50-odd people in in one day. We normally get about 35."
Adam admits that there is still a stigma to be overcome by persuading people who need help to come forward.
He said: “Some people are embarrassed to come in. We keep saying to them, ‘if you needed to go to the doctor, you’d go to the doctor’.
“If you need to use the foodbank, come here – that’s what we’re here for. We try to encourage people to use it if they need to.”
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The Trussell Trust's figures showed an overall increase in foodbank use across Scotland over the past year, with 259,744 emergency food parcels being given out nationwide.
The total represents a 50 per cent increase on the number of parcels distributed five years ago.
Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan said: "My office held discussions recently with the Inverclyde Foodbank, so I am aware of the enormous pressures it is facing.
"It is the difference between families being able to put food on the table, and not being able to do so.
"The individuals and organisations that donate are making a huge difference.
"With food inflation touching 20 per cent, this is having a devastating effect on who is actually able to donate, and that means a double blow to the foodbank, with soaring demand, and less donations all rolled into one big emergency.
"My office is seeing more and more cases where Universal Credit is just not stretching for basic necessities like food, energy and clothing.
"And the Trussell Trust says that almost half of all people referred to foodbanks have had their benefits cut through fines or loan paybacks.
"UK government policy is actually driving people to the point where food is unaffordable.
"Having held cost of living crisis surgeries, I know the pressures the people of Inverclyde are experiencing. But I would urge anyone who can, to donate to the Inverclyde Foodbank.
"The Scottish government is helping through policies like the Scottish Child Payment and the Scottish Welfare Fund, but the benefits of these measures are being eroded by a UK government which seems determined to wreck the economy, and punish the most vulnerable people."
A Trussell Trust spokesperson added: "Food banks across Scotland are seeing increasing demand for their services, and while the levels of stock are varied across the network, we know that for many food banks donation levels are not keeping up with current need.
"If you are in a position to help and wish to donate much needed items to support people facing hardship within your community, please visit your local food bank’s website and find out what items they need donating the most.”
Inverclyde Foodbank is currently seeking donations of tinned vegetables, potatoes, meat, and meals - such as tins of meatballs, macaroni cheese, or curry.
There is already a strong supply of pasta, rice, and beans.
Donations can be handed into the site on West Stewart Street between 9am and 4pm Monday-Friday, or left at donation points in Tesco or Morrisons.
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