Over this last year we have seen on the news or read in newspapers of the devastating stories of people in our city who have been forced into extreme measures just so they can eat something, anything, on a daily basis.

One heartbreaking story which I recently read was that of a starving eight-year-old in Glasgow who felt his only option was to steal tomato sauce sachets from his school canteen to take home to make soup.

We will all know of people who go out every single day to work, to earn money to care for themselves and their families but who find themselves still in a position which forces them to use food-banks so they can put food on their table.

This is, sadly, Glasgow and the west of Scotland in 2018.

The rise of food-bank usage should shock and shame us all.

No one in this day and age should have to use food-banks.

This Christmas I know many of us, including myself, will be donating to our local food-bank and supporting where we can the incredible community organisations which, throughout the year, do their bit to tackle the issues surrounding food poverty.

They do this through education, friendship and support, but need help to carry out their vital work in our communities.

I want to live in a world where all of our citizens can have a life where they don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from – or if they will even eat at all – but right now the reality is many people still rely on food-banks.

For that very reason, we must continue to support these organisations all year round by donating food, volunteering some of our time or just helping spread the word.

I will end by saying a big thank-you to all of those organisations in my ward which have this year ensured that many of our friends, neighbours and their pets did not go hungry.