Food bank 'unbelievably busy' as holidays start
BBCOrganisations providing free and discounted food to families in need are appealing for donations as they brace for an increase in demand over the school holidays.
Carlisle Food Bank, which helps about 900 people a month, said its stocks were already at the lowest level since the service opened.
Operations director Steph Humes said she was seeing "an awful lot" of new families coming forward for help for the first time.
"We are unbelievably busy" she said, adding: "We are very much in need of help with donations to just keep us going and keep these families fed."
Last year, the food bank handed out about 10,000 bags of food to more than 7,600 people.
Among them was John Ward, who has been using the service for two years.
He said: "The service they offer is amazing, without it I wouldn't have any food, I would starve."
The 48-year-old said he was recovering from addiction and most of his money went towards paying off debt, so he used the food bank a few times a month.
He said: "I know quite a few people who come here and it is heavily relied upon.
"They do a great job."
The government's Holiday Activities and Food Programme provides free meals and activities during school holidays, but is only available to children eligible for benefits-related free school meals.
Moorclose Community Centre in Workington runs a food pantry offering people a chance to pick up a bag of food for £2.
The food is surplus produce from supermarkets, which CEO Angela Rumney goes to collect in a minibus every day.
She said: "Kids are hungry and they need entertained and when they're running about they get more hungry."
She said about 30 families used the pantry each week, but she expected that to grow with the school holidays.
Rumney said: "We shouldn't need to do this.
"It will get busier but we're here and we're ready for it."
