ORGANISERS of a project which provides food parcels for West Somerset families in need have launched an appeal for some Christmas extras.

The West Somerset Food Cupboard was set up in 2007 to help local people struggling to make ends meet.

To date, it has handed out more than 1,100 food parcels each containing about £25 worth of non-perishable items.

The parcels are distributed throughout the year but with Christmas on the doorstep, organisers are hoping to give the boxes a festive feel.

And Minehead's Tesco supermarket is helping to make it easier for local people to donate items by setting up a special collection point in the store from Monday (December 3).

Project co-ordinator Christine Payne, pictured (left) with colleague Beverley Madley, said that when the food cupboard was first launched it was giving out an average of five boxes a month.

"Now we are running at about 15 to 20 a week," she said.

"We have collection points all over West Somerset and we are fortunate to live in such a caring community because without the compassion of those who support this project, there would be no food cupboard.

"And without the food cupboard there would be many families and individuals who would feel abandoned, lost, forgotten - just another statistic on a gloomy bar chart."

The basic parcels contain non-perishables ranging from tea, coffee, sugar and squash to tins of fish, fruit, baked beans and meat.

But organisers are hoping local people will help add a festive feel to the boxes by in addition donating Christmas puddings and cakes, chocolate logs, mince pies, nibbles and savouries, biscuits, sweets and chocolate.

"However small the gift, it will make a difference to someone's life," said Christine.

The project is based at St Michael's Church in Alcombe and is run by a team of volunteers who make up the parcels.

Those in need are referred through a range of local agencies who then deliver the parcels to the family or individual concerned.

"In order to maintain confidentiality we do not have any contact with the recipient nor do we need to know any of their personal details," said Christine.

"There are many reasons why people find themselves in the position of no money and no food.

"It could be through loss of employment, ill health, lack of money management skills, debt or delay in receiving benefits.

"Or it could be because of bereavement, family breakdown, homelessness, abuse, having children to look after on a low income or problems of addiction or mental illness."

Christine said the food cupboard was for times of crisis and the project did not encourage a regular supply of parcels to individuals or families.

"But the economic crisis is really beginning to bite and these parcels are needed more than ever.

"It's quite humbling to see the desperation some people are facing and the fact that someone is prepared to help them, that somebody actually cares, has a massive effect on their lives.

"It's the kindness of strangers.

"This is a community project, totally ecumenical and inter-generational.

"It's a simple process with no red tape and that is why it works so well."

The Tesco collection point will run until next Thursday (December 6) and customers will be asked to buy just one extra item of food from a list of items to donate to the project's food trolley as they leave the store.

Photo: Steve Guscott.