Why feeling festive means supporting our local foodbank

For many of us, not having enough to eat at Christmas is an almost inconceivable concept - but sadly, more people are now going hungry than ever before with this month expected to be the busiest of the year for foodbanks.

That's why Wards Solicitors' Staple Hill office decided it wanted to help The Trussell Trust as it supports those in need via its East Bristol foodbank.

Members of staff brought in non-perishable and in-date food, toiletries and festive treats to give to individuals and families who find themselves struggling to put a meal on the table for a whole host of reasons including redundancy, illness, low income and unexpected bills.

Shocking statistics

Last December, The Trussell Trust - which runs 428 foodbanks across the UK - provided 159,388 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis with 65,622 of these going to children. Everything handed out came from voluntary donations.

This is a ten per cent increase on the previous year and a figure that is sadly expected to be exceeded this year.

Wards Solicitors' Partner, Alison Underhill, manager of the Staple Hill office, says: "More and more people are daily facing the heart breaking prospect of being unable to put food on the table for themselves and their families.

"The Trussell Trust does an amazing job supporting people through its foodbanks throughout the year, not just at Christmas, and we all felt strongly that we wanted to do something to help people in need who live in our area."

• You can donate to The Trussell Trusts' Christmas campaign to help raise funds to support its network of foodbanks by clicking here;