Demand for foodbanks is more than 10 times higher now than it was five years ago.
Figures from the Trussell Trust charity reveals they distributed more than 2,000 emergency food parcels across Dumfries and Galloway between April and September last year.
That’s compared to less than 200 parcels over the same period in 2017.
Across Scotland, the number distributed rose from around 70,000 in 2017 to around 116,000 last year.
The charity’s chief executive, Emma Revie, said: “These new statistics show that, even in summer months, people are struggling to afford the essentials and we are expecting that this winter will be the hardest yet for foodbanks and the people they support. This is not right.
“We know that with the right support and a stable and sufficient income, people don’t need to turn to foodbanks for support. Over the last few years, the government has acted to protect people who are struggling, and this action has made a difference.
“They must now act again with swift support now to help people through the winter, and with vision for the longer term to ensure that social security is always enough to weather challenging times.”
The data shows that in 2017, the trust had one distribution point in Dumfries and Galloway. Between April and September that year, it gave 161 parcels to adults and 21 to children for a total of 182.
By 2022, the trust had two locations and it handed out 1,578 parcels to adults and 584 to kids – a total of 2,162.
South Scotland Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, said: “As the cost of living crisis piles pressure on households, more and more people locally are being forced to turn to foodbanks.
“Families are at breaking point and parents are struggling to feed their children.
“It is more urgent than ever that we enshrine people’s right to food in Scots law.
“When Labour proposed this at the time the Good Food Nations Bill was being passed by Parliament, the SNP-Green Government voted it down.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are doing everything we can to help households, within the limited powers we have.
“In this financial year we have allocated around £3 billion in a range of measures which will help mitigate the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on households, of which £1 billion is for support only available in Scotland and not elsewhere in the UK, for example Scottish Child Payment and Child Winter Heating Assistance.
“We are committed to incorporating a right to adequate food into Scots law in our forthcoming Human Rights Bill.”
