Season of good will is sadly needed Foodbank set for Christmas rush
Basics Food Bank is bracing for a busy Christmas period after dishing out an extra tonne of food to desperate families this year.
Historically the foodbank tends to see a reduction in food parcels being handed out over Christmas, however manager David Shaw believes the controversial benefit scheme Universal Credit will see more families relying on the service.
David said: “At this time of the year we are inundated with donations going into the foodbank which is a real blessing as this sustains us through the months at the turn of the year when donations don’t hit anywhere near the same heights.
“Historically we tend to see a reduction in food parcels going out during the month of December, but if the current trend seen over the past six months is any indicator we anticipate an increase this month on what went out last December. “Universal Credit is undoubtedly having a negative effect on those who are being put on this benefit and would be a major contributing factor in the increase we are seeing for food parcels going out.”
Basics Food Bank dished out an extra tonne of food to desperate families this year.
David added: “It really is tragic that this is where we are at in 2018.”
Basics Food Bank currently has 30 volunteers with bases in Wishaw Baptist Church, Motherwell Crosshill Parish Church, Airdrie Pilgrim Community Church and Viewpark Parish Church of Scotland.
David said the support from the local community allows the foodbank to cope with the increasing demand.
He added: “Basics Food Bank keeps up with the demand. At the end of every week I give thanks and acknowledgement to God my Heavenly Father in prayer, for everything that comes into our foodbank. This I believe is vital to the sustainability of the donations we see come in on a weekly basis through the variety of donation points we have.”
This time of year we are inundated with donations - a blessing David Shaw