DRUMCHAPEL Foodbank has been saved by the generosity of the community – but they urged everyone to keep the support coming.

Donations and further pledges poured in after the Post highlighted the shelves of the bank, emptied in just the first week of the summer holidays by an unexpected rise in benefit sanctions and marital breakdowns or bereavements on top of children being out of school.

The foodbank said they should have enough to see them through into next week with around 70 people needing support each week.

But they expect the demand to continue through the summer and said more contributions would always be welcome to their base at Unit 9, 15 Ladyloan Place, G15 8LB between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Liz Atkinson, manager of the foodbank, said: “We’ve had a great response. There was a huge number of Facebook enquiries and donations last week.

“We had enough for Tuesday, and emergencies last week, and this week and a number of people pledging to do stuff for us.

“People have also been donating fresh food such as eggs which they have never done before.

“In the main people have been saying to us that they had been meaning to donate however, the article showed the situation kind of ‘in your face’.

“We have had people sending us deliveries via Tesco, dropping in bags of shopping to the office as well as donating at Sainsburys.

“We have also had cash donations which is a great help in buying the fresh food as well as hot food at the drop in. My faith in human kindness has been restored.”

As well as income struggles stemming from benefit sanctions or residents escaping violence, others attending the foodbank have mental health or dependency issues.

Bill Kidd MSP said: “It is really great that people have responded so well to this vital call, however we have to remember that this is an ongoing situation due to austerity and we cannot allow these shelves to fall empty again.”

Foodbanks are under particular pressure during the summer as children don’t have access to school meals.

Bruce Adamson, the Scottish children’s commissioner for children and young people, said this week that holiday hunger was a “significant human rights issue” and called for both UK and Scottish Governments to gather more accurate data on the extent of the problem.

He said: “While these schemes provide a vital safety net, we need to see holiday hunger within the broader context of poverty and food insecurity.

“The issue is not just about food. Holiday hunger and child poverty is a significant children’s rights issue in Scotland.

“No child should be going hungry in the holidays.”