THE Co-op store in Caldicot has donated more than £250 worth of durable shopping bags to the town’s food bank as the charity gears up to help needy people at Christmas,

Last year, Caldicot Food Bank helped 269 people in December, including 146 children aged under 16, and there has been no let up, with recent food parcel demand up, it says.

A spokesman said: “Monthly demand has recently increased by more than 30 per cent, and we’re anticipating having to provide food to more than 300 people this December, including more than 150 children.” 

Caldicot Food Bank chairman David Flint said: “At December we help four times as many people as we do in any other month of the year. Organising it with our limited resources becomes quite a challenge.

“The shopping bags will be used in shipping the Christmas parcels to clients. Other local retail stores and businesses are helping Caldicot’s Food Bank, while primary schools and churches have recently been helping with donations resulting from harvest events.”

He also praised the generosity of residents, saying: “We wouldn’t survive if it weren’t for the general public’s support.”

At Christmas, the food bank provides a standard parcel, plus a Christmas meal with a present for each member of the family. The Christmas meal may include items such as chicken, ham, vegetables, Christmas pudding and custard, cake and some Christmas treats like chocolates, potato crisps and Christmas crackers.

Most clients are single parents with very young children, and Mr Flint added: “We’re aware of some clients saying they’ve registered to go onto Universal Credit. Reportedly, with no benefits payments for a minimum of five weeks, many don’t wish to add to their current debt by taking a loan off the Government, and in these circumstances they use what money they can to prevent eviction from their rented properties.”

Cash donations can also be made to the food bank. Cheques should be made out in the name of the charity, Raven House Trust, and should be left with the clerk to the town council and at the council offices in Sandy Lane, Caldicot. NP6 4NA.

Food item requirements include jam or tins of fruit, but also household items such as toilet rolls, washing-up liquid, soap and washing detergent.

Donated food can be left with the council as well as at Caldicot Library (The Hub), ASDA, the Co-op or Waitrose, plus several local churches.

To obtain help from the food bank, people need to be assessed by one of more than 20 agencies the food bank works with, such as Substance Abuse, housing associations, the Probation Service and MIND and others.

Caldicot Foodbank is a member of Raven House Trust, a registered charity, and is supported by ‘Churches Together in Caldicot’.