While many families will be stocking up on festive treats at the supermarket, AM Leanne Wood has asked people to think about those without food in Wales this winter.
The food bank network in Wales is in high demand because of the increasing numbers of people that cannot afford food. The network, run by the Trussell Trust, distributes packages containing three days of emergency tinned or dried food to those in need.
The Trussell Trust say that across the UK there has been a 71% increase in demand and last year they fed fed 24,000 men, women and children.
There are currently ten food banks in Wales, including in Pontyclun, Tylorstown and Cardiff. There are plans to double provision in the next three years to meet demand if funding can be found.
Leanne Wood, AM for South Wales Central, said: “Wales is a developed country but there are people going hungry because they do not have enough money to feed themselves.
“In the region I represent in the Assembly, there are three food banks alone. This is not the 1930s – there shouldn’t be a need for food banks – they are the modern-day equivalent of ‘soup kitchens’.
“But when so many people depend on them as a last resort safety net, I think it’s important to recognise and publicise the valuable work being done.
“The food banks could not exist if it were not for the generosity of people donating food at supermarket collections and volunteering their time.
“People can also help by donating food at their local distribution centre. For example, at the Cardiff food bank they are currently appealing for donations of fruit juice and tinned fruit because of a shortage of these goods.
“There will be more collections organised in the New Year outside supermarkets and I hope that if people see them they will be able to go along and give generously.”
