With the cost of living crisis affecting more and more families across Dunfermline and West Fife, big-hearted Press readers are being asked to dig deep and give a little help to those who need it.
As prices rise, there's a growing number of people turning to their local foodbank who, despite receiving continuing support, are struggling to keep up with demand.
Dunfermline Foodbank, which also operates the Rosyth and Inverkeithing foodbanks, as well as those in Cowdenbeath and Benarty, is desperately in need of more supplies to ensure it can provided the help that's needed.
So the Press is once again launching its annual foodbank appeal – generously sponsored this year by Stagecoach, TechnipFMC, Andrew Allan Architecture, James McCreadie & Sons, Gray & Adams, and Kent – to encourage everyone who can to make a donation.
The organisation's Project Manager, Sandra Beveridge, said many in the local community are feeling the pinch and turning to their services for help.
"We are still extremely busy and donations are not what they used to be, obviously, because of the crisis that everybody is in," she said. "We are at the stage now where we are buying in stock every month just to keep the foodbank well supplied. That is how much donations have gone down.
"The demand is so great we just can't keep up with it. In the last year, we've fed over 9,000 people. Although people in the area are very generous, currently it is just not enough to keep up with the demand."
Anyone wanting to donate is now able to see what items are most needed through the Foodbank App or by checking on the charity's website where an up to date list is published every month.
"It is a traffic light system so red is what is urgently needed, amber, we are in need of more, and green is we are fine and well stocked," explained Sandra.
"We are always look for the basics, long life milk, all tins of food, particularly meat, as well as tea, coffee and milk and sugar, and things like that. We always seem to run out of toiletries as well.
"We have permanent collection points in all the local Asda and Tesco stores, so donations can be left there too. If you can't find them, ask at customer services."
As in previous years, the Press is launching an annual foodbank appeal, calling on our readers, if they can, to support those less fortunate than themselves by making a donation.
We're grateful for the support of our sponsors, as their backing is crucial to the appeal, and will help ensure more people can receive the support the need from the foodbank.
The foodbank welcomes donations of money, big or small, as every gift helps transform lives.
And of course, donations of food and toiletries are always greatly appreciated.
To encourage more donations, we're giving Press readers the chance to do their bit too.
We'll be including a donations bag in our paper on March 29, which we hope readers will fill with goods for the foodbank. It can then be dropped off at our Pitreavie office or one of the foodbank's drop-off points which can be found on the website https://dunfermline.foodbank.org.uk. There are donation points in Dunfermline, Dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, Rosyth and Oakley.
Sandra added: “We want to say a huge thank you to the Dunfermline Press and all the sponsors involved in running this campaign for us to get more donations.
"It’s needed now more than ever as clients are on the increase. It’s just a very difficult time for everybody, so we can’t thank the Press and all the sponsors enough. Thank you.”
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