Huge rise in the number of people using food banks across Teesside
Trussell has released its latest stats
There has been a huge rise in the number of people using food banks across Teesside in the last three years.
New stats from Trussell show an increase of 58 percent in parcels being handed out to adults and children. Around two-fifths of the distribution were for kids.
Helen Hedges, manager of the Redcar area food bank, said: "It's been a different year. We've had high levels in the beginning of the year of clients coming and it's drifted off a little bit over the end of the summer. Our biggest problem though is we've actually given out more food than the donations we're getting in, so basically we're running out of food.
"We've had to do something that I didn't want to do and that's reducing the number of parcels clients can claim within six months down to three instead of four, purely because we have no other option at the moment. Christmas is coming so it's a little bit worrying.
"Hopefully people will see our dilemma and they'll help. We're not asking for loads. If everybody in Redcar and Cleveland gave one or two cans, we'd be fine. It's just a difficult time with it being Christmas.
"Volunteers are worried because they're working in the warehouses and they see the low stock numbers. I'm hopeful that everything will turn around for Christmas, but if anybody who wants to donate to us please, please get in touch.
"Contrary to what people believe, it's not just people that are living on benefits and have addictions, there are people out there with two or three jobs and they're using food banks because they can't make ends meet. They're not entitled to benefits because they're earning too much but they can't get any other help so they're stuck."
Larysa Worthy lost her husband earlier this year and she has been getting help from St. George's Church in Normanby near Redcar.
She said: "I've been lucky to use this food bank a few times which has been a huge help. I'm just very grateful and even today, I've got bread. It's very rare that I'll go home from here with empty hands. They always give me something, even if I'm not here for the foodbank, a few times I've been given beautiful flowers which I put near my husband.
"Even when my husband was alive, unfortunately he wasn't in good health and we needed some help. This foodbank helped us so much.
"I try to not be a nuisance and I know I can't get food every time I want. I tried to not be selfish because a lot of other people might need more help but I'm very, very grateful for these few times.
"I've had tremendous support with this food which lasts me for quite a long time and sometimes I don't need something expensive to feel happy."