Charity struggles to meet Christmas food demand

Feeding Families hopes to hand out Christmas food hampers to 10,000 families this month

A charity which provides food hampers for families across the North East says it is struggling to meet demand this Christmas.

Feeding Families hopes to hand out Christmas baskets to 10,000 families this month, but currently only has enough food for about 8,000.

Demand for hampers has doubled this year, but donations have not kept pace. "There just isn't enough," said Juliet Sanders, the head of the charity.

She added it will take a “Christmas miracle” to produce parcels for all those who need them.

Over 600 volunteers currently collect food, pack hampers and send them out in vans to those in need.

The food baskets contain essentials like canned food and rice as well as Christmas treats such as mince pies.

Hampers are delivered throughout the North East, with volunteers working six days a week in the run-up to Christmas.

The charity operates year-round from packaging centres in Blaydon, Gateshead, and Fishburn, County Durham.