A community food bank aimed at helping out needy residents is struggling to cope with demand.
Basingstoke Food Aid 4 U at the YMCA in Eastrop has seen demand tripling over the last week.
Tracey Gauntlett, 30 who runs the service with fiance Martin Shroeder, 34, said they would struggle to stay on top of demand into the new year.
She said: “We are struggling at the moment, but we will still and try and give a service. If demand stays as it is, we will be cutting it very fine into the new year.”
She said 17 residents came through their doors on Friday November 3 and Monday November 6 when they normally see five to six residents over two days.
Demand was so high that their stocks were cleared out on the Monday, requiring an emergency stock up from Asda in Brighton Hill.
Ms Gauntlett, who runs the service full time, said: “It's wonderful that we are able to help so many people clearly in need, but it is hard to keep up with it.
“It's a fight to keep stocks high.
“We have seen more families coming through this winter.
“What people have told us is they are so hard pushed that they have to decide between paying their fuel bills to keep warm or to eat properly.”
The food bank relies on funding to stay afloat. Since launching in September, the bank has received grants from Basingstoke Deane Rotary Club and through Comic Relief.
Out of this, the pair pay rent to run their offices in the YMCA centre and buy the food.
Ms Gauntlett said: “We are now down to our last £500. On Monday, the trip to Asda cost £130, which would normally do us two weeks.”
The pair have now launched an appeal to businesses in Basingstoke to contribute food for a Christmas parcels.
So far, 12 businesses have agreed to help.
Ms Gauntlett added: “The Christmas appeal is going really well and we have had a great response. Hopefully, we should be getting something back.
“But then again, we had a donation on Monday come in and they were gone as soon as they came through the door.”
Basingstoke Food Aid 4 U works alongside 30 partner agencies, including housing associations and help groups, who give residents vouchers for the food parcels.
