The cost of living crisis inspired one man to set up the UK's first Food Bank Day to help raise support and ensure no-one has to go hungry.
More and more Brits are turning to food banks as they are unable to afford to eat - and in some areas 40% are children.
Now Simon Baum, 43, has organised the UK's first Food Bank Day, which takes place on November 30.
"The aim of Food Bank Day is to give a big boost to food banks in the run-up to what will probably be their busiest-ever Winter", Baum said.
Essex-based Baum, a musician and recruitment agency boss, said he got the idea for Food Bank Day after one of his friends fell into financial difficulty and began using a food bank.
"One of my friends, he stopped coming on nights out and became withdrawn," Baum explained.
"I called him and he said he had been struggling. He'd had to take a demotion at work, and had started a second job.
"Even then, after paying all his bills he had no money left over for food. It really shocked me - I always thought he was doing really well.
"Everyone portrays a certain view of themselves on social media, but when you speak to them about how things really are it can be very different."
Britain's biggest foodbank network, The Trussell Trust, handed out more than 11.5 million meals in just six months between April and the end of September 2022.
That figure is up by 32% compared with the same period last year and by 52% compared with April to September 2019 - before the coronavirus pandemic.
Baum said he wants Food Bank Day to encourage people to give money, food and items to food banks and to volunteer if possible.
He also wants to encourage people to write to their local MP to help raise political awareness of the issue.
His idea is backed by major food banks - as well as getting support online from celebrities like Rory Bremner, Les Dennis, Alex Horne and Jenny Eclair.
How to help your local food bank
Baum has set up a website, foodbankday.co.uk , which has links to help find food banks near you.
The website also has links to assist with how to volunteer, as well as donation tips and advice on how to write to your MP.
Additionally it has tips on how to know what to donate to food banks. A free app called Bank The Food lets you know what items food banks in your area really need.
Baum added: "I don't want there to be a Food Bank Day - or there to be a need for food banks. But if there's a need, we will do another one next year and make it even bigger.
"But the support has been fantastic."
Last month the Trussell Trust warned of a “tsunami of need” this winter - sparking fears volunteers could run out of food to hand to hard-up households.
