A LIFELINE church foodbank left operating on a hand to mouth basis is being forced to turn people away due to lack of supplies.

Church Angels, which is based at Port Glasgow United Reformed Church, has hit breaking point due to a surge in demand.

The volunteer team, headed up by Reverend Susan Henderson, held a crisis meeting over how to spread out their dwindling stocks as the number of people looking for their help soars.

Greenock Telegraph:

Susan said: "We have queues every Tuesday and Thursday and give out 36 bags each day we are open.

"That is two bags per household with all the essentials, a three-day emergency supply.

"It's first-come, first-served here and when the bags are finished, we have to direct people elsewhere."

The Telegraph this week visited the foodbank, which opens at 10am. Just forty minutes after it had opened there were only around 15 bags left to distribute.

Susan says the foodbank's perilous predicament is down to the increased demand coupled with fewer donations, which she blames on the cost of living crisis.

She said: "Donations are decreasing and demand is becoming greater and greater.

"I think the cost of living crisis means that people who usually donate are giving a little bit less than they did before.

"We can sense a growing air of desperation among people, especially when the foodbank can't help them.

"We have to turn away around 10 families a week.

"I despair that people are in this situation."

Greenock Telegraph:

Since Covid pandemic the foodbank has gone from helping around 400 people a year to more than 3,500.

Before the pandemic it was was self-funding but now it has been forced to look for outside help.

Inverclyde Council awarded the charity £3,000 from its Community Grants Fund back in September.

While the group is very grateful for the council's support there has been a delay in issuing the payment and it has still not arrived.

Susan said: "The application is still being processed, we should have it in the next week.

"The council have been great with us and we very much appreciate the grant.

"It means that we will be able to open up until Christmas and I know the council is in talks about the possibility of a grant from a different department."

In the meantime, any donations from the public will be gratefully received by the team. The foodbank is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and noon.