Foodbanks prepare for December, their busiest month, with big rise in demand due

Foodbanks are gearing up for their busiest month of the year as they prepare for a big increase in the number of people seeking emergency supplies.

The Trussell Trust said new figures showed its network of foodbanks provided almost 134,000 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis last December, 45% more than the monthly average.

Adrian Curtis, the Trust's Foodbank network director, 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."

The Trust's 420 foodbanks provided over 1.1 million three-day emergency food supplies in the year to April.