HUNDREDS of supply crates are lying empty at a lifeline foodbank as the busy festive period approaches - with the charity already spending thousands of pounds to try and make up the shortfall.

Staff at Inverclyde Foodbank say that despite the generosity of locals in recent months, their stocks are still well short of the totals recorded in previous years.

Inverclyde Foodbank manager Adam Wines and his team have already had to spend £12,000 purchasing extra items to be handed out to the area’s vulnerable and needy.

Last month the Tele told how a significant increase in demand coupled with a drop in donations had left the West Stewart Street hub in a difficult position. 

Adam told the Telegraph it was vital that locals kept supporting the foodbank over the Christmas period and beyond.

He said: “We’ve still got hundreds of crates left to fill relative to what we’ve had historically.

“The stock is looking better than it was a few weeks ago, but we’ve started buying stuff.

“We‘ve had some great donations from schools and churches in the area, as well as Morrisons, which has helped with the situation.

“But we’ve had to spend about £12,000 over the four months or so, we would normally we wouldn’t have had to spend that much.

“There’s been a shortfall in the food coming in and we’ve got to make that up somehow.”

Foodbank bosses say they normally see a seasonal slump in donations following Christmas and New Year and are urging locals to keep supporting them after the festive period to help combat this decline.

He said: “Last year was my first year going through the January quiet spell and it was very quiet because everyone had put a lot of effort in before Christmas.

“We didn’t have much coming in from January to February and March.

“It’s important that people keep giving during that period if they can, everything tails off a bit otherwise.

“A lot of families can put themselves in debt getting or doing things for kids at this time of year.

“They don’t want to let their kids down.

“We’re coming into the colder months now and people will be sticking their heating back on which will only increase the pressure on them.

“All of this means it’s more difficult for people at this time which is why donating can be so helpful.”

Inverclyde Foodbank will be holding donation drives at Tesco in Greenock and Port Glasgow on November 30, December 1 and December 2.

Further details about how to support the foodbank or become a volunteer there can be found on their Facebook page.