A Dundee foodbank is appealing for an “extra pair of hands” as it continues to experience an unusually busy summer.
Humanitarian project Taught By Muhammad is asking for help after a post Christmas slump in referrals failed to materialise.
The charity regularly experiences a high level of referrals during winter months, but usually see referrals decrease as the temperature increases.
This year however, a consistently large number of referrals has put volunteers and staff under the cosh.
Last month alone, 188 parcels were handed out by the charity.
127 of the donated parcels were for adults, 34 were gathered for children and 27 were for pets.
Demand in May has continued in a similar vein.
The “really busy” period has surprised staff and volunteers.
According to charity operations manager Rizwan Rafik, the current situation is abnormal.
Rizwan said: “This isn’t normal for this time of year.
“Things tend to quieten down and then pick up again in winter, so, no, this isn’t normal.
“We could do with an extra pair of hands on both sides, preparing parcels and driving to deliver them. There’s always stuff to do.
“A six or seven pound food parcel can be a life-saver for some people.
“It’s not nice to see how people are living sometimes. You think: “How can this be, how can people be in this situation?”
“But it’s about everyone coming together and working together to help.”
Taught By Muhammad is currently looking for drivers to help deliver food parcels around homes in Dundee.
Anyone wishing to help prepare parcels is also encouraged to get in touch.
To find out more email admin@yyi.org.uk or call 07871040642.
There were almost 10,000 referrals for emergency food packages in Dundee last year.
Figures released last month by the Trussell Trust show a rise in foodbank use across Dundee, Perth, Angus and Fife.
More than a third of Dundee emergency food packages were referred to children.
In excess of 145,000 emergency food packages were handed out across Scotland between April 2016 and April 2017 – enough to feed the population of Dundee.
