Glasgow charity on brink of running out of food bank supplies

The Marie Trust provides seven-day emergency food parcels to those experiencing financial hardship and staff have seen an increase in the number of people turning to them for help as the cost-of-living crisis grips the city.

The charity’s shelves are now almost completely bare - and staff fear they won’t be able to fulfil daily food parcel demand without an urgent influx of donations.

Chief officer Frances McKinlay said: "We are in now in desperate need of help. Our shelves are empty and it has become a real struggle to help those in Glasgow who really need it the most.

“We are seeing more and more people unable to cope due to rising bills and fuel poverty. We are hearing from parents who can’t afford to feed their kids. It’s a terrible situation to be in.

"We recently had to help a family with three children under the age of four who just couldn’t afford to buy food, that is how desperate the problem has become. People who come here are at a crisis point and have nowhere else to turn. We exist because people have no other way of feeding themselves.”

The Glasgow Times' Beat the Squeeze campaign is challenging the Scottish and UK Governments to do more to help people who are being put on the breadline by the spiralling cost of living.

Those already on low incomes are seeing their standard of living hit rock bottom as they are pushed towards poverty, with many working families also finding themselves having to choose between heating or eating.

Frances, 53, who has worked with the charity for three years, said the rising costs of shopping bills are forcing well-wishers to think twice before donating food.

She said: “People are now in a situation where they think 'can I afford to donate this item or will I need it for myself?'

"As soon as donations come in, they go straight back out the door. We've never seen that before and nobody should underestimate how hard the rocketing cost of living is hitting everyday people. We are struggling to meet the constant demand for food at the very time we need that support more than ever."

The Marie Trust in Glasgow’s Albion Street provides counselling, dental and health check-ups, as well daily hot meals for up to 120 people affected by homelessness or financial hardship.

A brand-new state-of-the-art kitchen will provide cookery courses led by the charity’s head chef Eilidh MacDonald to enable people to make the most of their food parcels.

Frances added: “Educating people to cook properly and make nutritious meals from scratch is important to us, and it can help a little go a lot further.

“We treat everyone who comes through our doors with dignity and respect and want to give them every opportunity to transform their lives.

“Our new centre will be able to cater for 120 people daily and that includes making breakfast, lunch and an evening meal.

“We don’t want anyone to go hungry and we offer a range of support, including crisis intervention, fuel vouchers, pharmacy service and washing facilities."

To donate, visit themarietrust.org or call 0141 286 0065.