A TOTAL of 37 children in Drumchapel are having to ask for support from the local foodbank this week as families continue to face financial crises.

Drumchapel Foodbank said demand has doubled in recent weeks and they are now helping 45 individuals, 20 of them with families and a large number of children.

The charity said they needed to appeal to the generosity of Post readers who rescued them from empty shelves in the summer when demand was high.

Liz Atkinson, manager of the foodbank, said she is alarmed by what’s happening and the prospect of families facing further hardship in the run-up to Christmas, particularly if they are forced to turn to money lending services.

She told the Post: “The shelves are absolutely empty because we are supporting 45 individuals, 20 of which have families. We are short of everything.

“The numbers dropped into the 20s but we are seeing them rise again. Last week we had 38 and dealt with 12 emergencies.

“We are seeing the rearing of the benefit sanctions had again. We saw people very distressed last week, crying that they’re having to use foodbanks. We need to calm them down first and then find out what they need.

“I had thought we had been seeing a change but you’re fighting a losing battle.

“We need support. Because we’re coming up for Christmas, this is not going away and people are going to accumulate debt and use money lenders.”

Ms Atkinson said they were okay for fresh food thanks to financial donations that help them pick up items for distribution on Tuesdays.

And a £500 grant was covering lunches during the October week while pupils were off school.

The list of items needed by the foodbank are:

  • tea bags
  • tinned spaghetti/hoops/bolognese
  • tinned peas/carrots/sweetcorn/mixed veg
  • tinned hot dogs
  • tinned meat balls
  • instant noodles/pasta ‘n’ sauce
  • jars of pasta sauce
  • nappies (size 5/6/7)
  • shampoo/shower gel/conditioner
  • tinned meat (ie corned beef, ham, Frey Bentos Pies)
  • tinned meals (ie mac n cheese, minced beef, ravioli, tinned curry, stew)
  • tinned custard/rice pudding
  • tinned fruit
  • biscuits
  • cereal
  • tinned soup (any flavour)
  • soap powder
  • sugar

Donations can be dropped at Unit 9, 15 Ladyloan Place, G15 8LB between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.