CHRISTMAS is a time of for celebration and for many, an eagerly awaited time of year where families and friends come together to eat, drink and exchange presents in the warmth of their homes.
For many this is not the case and the Yate and Chipping Sodbury food bank aims to help the less fortunate not only during the festive period, but all year round.
With their newest statistics showing a significant rise of users, with five times the amount of people turning to the facility for help compared to two years ago, we must not only support the food bank, but also remember to thank the volunteers.
It is easy to neglect thanks to the food bank amidst our busy schedules and diverted attention to bigger groups, but they truly deserve recognition for the impact they have on many lives.
The statistics are more than mere numbers on a page. This year, 1844 people used the food bank in total between April and September, including 1079 adults and 765 children.
Each digit represents an individual who turned to the food bank for help and received support which can have immense value and repercussions.
As we celebrate the festivities and welcome in the New Year with aspiring resolutions, consider your involvement and contribution to the food banks in your area, whether you wish to demonstrate support to volunteers and users, make donations or simply thank them for their commitment and hard work, during and after the Christmas period.