A GROWING number of East Renfrewshire parents are having to rely on foodbanks to prevent their children from going hungry, according to shock new figures.

Between April and September this year, 986 grocery parcels were given out to cash-strapped parents at a centre in Barrhead.

That compares to 819 children’s food parcels handed out by the town’s foodbank in the same six-month period last year – an increase of more than 20%.

Ken Trench, who is part of the East Renfrewshire Foodbank management team in Barrhead, said it is doing all it can to support parents who are seeking help to feed their youngsters.

He told the Barrhead News: “We don’t give the food direct to the children but to their parents. Traditionally, many of those who come to us for help are on benefits.

“However, we are seeing more and more people who have just lost their jobs, who are now struggling financially and cannot afford to feed their families in the same way as before.

“Many were self-employed or had their own business.”

The food parcel figures for East Renfrewshire are contained in a shock report from the Trussell Trust, which supports 1,300 foodbanks across the UK.

The charity said the six-month period from April to September was the busiest ever for British foodbanks.

A total of 2,160 parcels were issued during those six months by East Renfrewshire Foodbank, which relocated to a new site in Barrhead’s Bank Street last month.

Members of the public have continued to donate groceries in large numbers throughout the coronavirus outbreak.

Ken, who is a pastor at Barrhead’s Spirit of Life Church, added: “I can’t thank the people of East Renfrewshire enough. Their support has been phenomenal and helped us remain open during the last eight months.”

The Barrhead team aims to provide a four-day supply of nutritionally-balanced emergency food for people who are going hungry.

Food parcels for children can also include baby food, baby milk and nappies.

East Renfrewshire Foodbank is open on Tuesdays, from noon until 2pm, and on Fridays, from 2pm until 4pm.

Permanent donation baskets are in place at the Asda and Tesco stores in Barrhead to make it easy for shoppers to show their support.

Donations can also be made at the Waitrose store in Newton Mearns.