The outpouring of support for a Dumfries foodbank over the festive season has been “off the scale”.
First Base Emergency Food Project manager Mark Frankland said the Christmas spirit shown by residents across the region has been “incredibly heartening”.
Donations are allowing the organisation to be able to hand out more than 1,600 food parcels a month amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Mark said: “Considering the times we are living in, the generosity of people has been unbelievable.
“After the experience of the Covid pandemic when the community proved itself to be extraordinarily caring, they have reacted once again to times of absolute adversity with amazing generosity.
“The donations have been off the scale and we can’t thank everyone enough. It has been incredibly heartening.”
First Base has been a lifeline to families in Dumfries and Galloway for 18 years.
At the peak of the pandemic, it was distributing 2,300 food parcels a month – up from 600 before.
Mark added: “We deal with people from all walks of life and at this time of year, everyone tries to do Christmas by hook or by crook and are living off credit cards.
“We are really, really busy but we’re in control of the situation.
“However, my big concern is that with things the way they are right now, many people will soon be tipped over the edge.”
He said as the soaring cost of food and fuel continues to hit people across the region, many could find themselves in desperate circumstances in the new year.
“With inflation and bills going up, some people are just hanging on by a thread as it is”, he said.
“Some businesses are also just holding on and it worries me that there could be a huge wave of redundancies in the new year.
“Circumstances and outgoings can drastically change at any time.
“When you see news coverage of other foodbanks south of the border, I feel immensely relieved we’re not having the same experience here. I don’t know what we would do if we were.
“But thanks to the generosity of people, we are managing the situation for now.”
