AWARD-winning West Somerset Food Bank, which has been helping families in need to feed themselves since 2007, has seen a ‘noticeable decline’ in donations in recent weeks.

But demand for the charity’s services has continued to grow, with a sudden increase in particular in families needing gluten-free and dairy-free produce.

A food cupboard spokesperson said neither the high demand nor the drop in donations was surprising in the ‘current financial climate’.

They said: “People really are struggling to stretch their budgets to meet all the demands of housing costs and general living costs.

“Food prices are significantly high, and even what we call the staple foods like milk and sugar have seen dramatic price increases.

“Households are struggling to put a meal on the table, let alone try to provide a healthy choice of food.

“The rising cost of food is also impacting our level of donations.

“We are seeing a noticeable decline, as many people are finding it harder to add a few extra items to their shopping to support us.

“Combined with growing demand for our services, these are challenging times for food banks.

“Please keep spreading the word about the work we do.

“This is a vital service, and we rely on the strength of community support to keep it going.”

The spokesperson said the charity, which has received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, was currently saving about 180 kg per week of food from going to landfill.

They said: “Nothing ever gets wasted.

“If you can offer some alternative diet items that would also be great.

“We have suddenly had a demand for gluten-free and dairy-free produce, and we are currently supporting a number of families with these requirements.

“We cannot do this without the reliable food donations that you generously support us with.

“If you are not sure where you can donate food, there is a map on our website.

“Your donation is vital.

“Nobody chooses to come to a food bank.

“But people are being pushed deeper into poverty and the food bank is their only hope of having something for tea that day.

“Any items you can add to our cupboard, or financial gifts you feel able to make, will make all the difference to meeting the need.”

The charity’s Local Pantry, which operates on Tuesdays from St Michael the Archangel Church, Alcombe, celebrated its third anniversary in the spring and is continuing to provide weekly food parcels to 40 member families in need.

It receives surplus food from supermarkets via FareShare South West, with which the Free Press has recently partnered, and packages it into parcels for members living in a 15-minute travel radius.

Families pay a £4 weekly membership fee and receive fresh, chilled, and non-perishable supermarket food which would otherwise have gone to waste.

The spokesperson said: “As demand for surplus food has increased significantly with the rise in food charities, our local supplies have become even more crucial.

“Every single act of generosity truly makes a difference in helping us support our local community.”