Foodbanks in Huntingdonshire have faced one of their "busiest years to date", with much of the country forced to choose between heating or eating this winter amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The Hunts Post spoke to four foodbanks in the area to see how they have coped this Christmas and throughout the year as part of the There With You This Winter campaign to support our communities through the tough winter months.

Despite the substantially busy period, the foodbanks reported that the community support has shone through to ensure struggling communities did not go hungry this festive period.

St Neots

The St Neots Foodbank said they had experienced an increase in demand in the latter half of the year but were still able to deliver more than 325 Christmas hampers, amassing four tonnes worth of food.

The hampers were full of treats and items to make a traditional Christmas lunch and were in addition to the standard food parcels. 

Adrienne Dunn, the project manager at St Neots Foodbank, said: "The community of St Neots have been brilliant in their support of the foodbank giving us food and money for which we are very grateful.

"We could not feed those in need without their great support."

The Hunts Post: The Trussell Trust support a nationwide network of foodbanks and run the foodbanks in St Neots, Ramsey and Godmanchester. The Trussell Trust support a nationwide network of foodbanks and run the foodbanks in St Neots, Ramsey and Godmanchester. (Image: The Trussell Trust)

St Neots Foodbank, part of the Trussel Trust, is currently well stocked but is in need of long-life milk and tinned meat.

Anyone struggling to buy food in St Neots should contact info@stneots.foodbank.org.uk or phone 01480 475426.

St Ives

St Ives Foodbank is an independent food bank run by volunteers at All Saints Parish Church, and 2022 has been their "busiest on record".

More than 17,300kg of food was distributed to more than 1,700 people, which is 500 more people than their previous busiest year in 2020.

Despite the decreasing donations, thanks to the "wonderful generosity" from St Ives, more than 2,250kg of food was donated at a bumper harvest festival, and the 1st Earith, Bluntisham and Colne Cub Pack provided 550kg worth.

Co-ordinator Karen Clapp said: "We are expecting to see a continued increase in demand in 2023, especially during the winter months, and we are seeing more and more people whose income no longer stretches to cover their expenditure, where it once used to.  

"So I would ask people to please continue to donate food to the food bank."

The foodbank's current needs include tinned potatoes, instant mash, pasta sauce, tinned meat pies, tomato soup, cream crackers, sugar, toilet rolls and bags for life.

To find out where to donate, visit www.stivesparishchurch.org.uk/foodbank/.

Ramsey

Ramsey Foodbank has maintained high levels of stock at Christmas winter thanks to many generous donations such as the Tesco winter collection and harvest donations.

The team of 20 volunteers helped distribute more than 120 Christmas hampers before Christmas alongside regular parcels and warm clothing and toys.

Hot water bottles were included in the hampers, and a stock of warm blankets awaits distribution.

Operations manager Lisa Williamson said: "We have been extremely fortunate with monetary donations recently and are so grateful for this help." 

Lisa added the foodbank, also part of the Trussel Trust, is always in need of coffee, jam, tinned fruit, custard and milk if anyone has any to donate.

Godmanchester

The number of food hampers usually sent out had doubled in the four weeks to Christmas at Godmanchester Foodbank.

A Tesco collection in early December was a success, but such was the busyness of the foodbank; the food had run out only a short time after.

The Hunts Post: More than 30 volunteers helped over the festive period at Godmanchester foodbank and prepared hundreds of Christmas hampers for people in need.More than 30 volunteers helped over the festive period at Godmanchester foodbank and prepared hundreds of Christmas hampers for people in need. (Image: Godmanchester Foodbank)

Thanks to "incredibly generous" public donations, food was replenished, more than 300 Christmas food bags were provided to schools, and volunteers worked with local pubs to provide hot meals for families in need.

With five volunteers deliberately taking annual leave to help, project manager for Godmanchester Foodbank, Jude Lechmere, said: "Our volunteers worked incredibly hard to prepare food parcels for delivery and keep us on track with the level of need."

A continued increase in demand is expected for 2023, and Jude added: "Sadly, I do not see any improvement in the short term with costs due to rise for most food basics."

To help foodbanks, including Godmanchester's, tinned food donations are always welcome and would go a long way in ensuring families struggling this winter don't have to go hungry.