CHRISTMAS is the most wonderful time of the year but for some families, it can be fraught with stress and worry.

As more and more homes encounter financial difficulties, volunteer-led foodbanks are becoming increasingly important in helping ensure people have enough food to survive.

Now, four food banks from the south and west Dorset are urging people to donate to try and ensure more people can be given enough food to survive.

In Weymouth, the food bank, which operates out of the Baptist Church, has been running for more than three years, helping countless people.

Brenda Woodsford, who helps manage the food bank, said: “There is a great need in the town for it, we have been helping people for years and it can really help make someone’s Christmas when they get the food.

“We give away all sorts of food, from tinned meat to fruit and vegetables, plus items such as squash and milk.

“There has definitely been an increase in the number of people using it over the past three years, especially at this time of year, more and more people use it because more people start to struggle with bills, or being made redundant or having benefits stopped.”

The food bank distributes food twice a week from 10.30am until 12.30pm on Tuesdays and Fridays, and Mrs Woodsford added: “We always need donations.”

On Portland, food bank manager John Bayliff also urged people to donate.

The food bank operates twice a week on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 9.30am and 11.30am from St John’s Church Hall on Ventnor Road, and has helped 681 people since it was launched two years ago.

Mr Bayliff said: “We have been gradually getting busier over the years, but in particular in the run up to Christmas, more and more people need to use us.

“They can get food from us and we can help them, we can talk to them and listen to them

“We always need donations, but in particular if people want to donate, we always need women’s sanitary products and toiletries as people do need these and often if they come to us they can’t afford them.

“Some people come to us to get themselves out of a hole, some need longer term help, and we try to help in any way we can.”

Cupboard Love, the name of the food bank in Bridport, also requires donations as it distributes 100 days’ worth of food every three days on average to those most in need in West Dorset.

The food bank operates out of St Mary’s Church on South Street every Wednesday morning between 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Reverend Andrew Evans, who helps manage the food bank, said: “Just after Christmas, when people don’t have much money, bills start mounting up, people start struggling and then come in to get food.

“We have got a constant need for donations.

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