POVERTY-hit city residents are walking miles to visit a Glasgow foodbank.

 

Julie Webster, who runs the Greater Maryhill Foodbank, says people are trekking across the city in desperation for food and support.

It came as the foodbank recorded another busy month. They fed 1125 people, including 465 children, in February.

Julie believes the situation is not improving - and said she had noticed an increase in the number of "working poor" clients.

Julie, 38, said: "It is getting busier. More people are getting to know about us. I think it's because we're not just a foodbank, we sign post people to other agencies and really help them."

"There's people walking from Parkhead to Maryhill to come to our foodbank.

"We are feeding clients from the East End and the South Side.

"We are seeing people from well outside Maryhill now."

The foodbank is still seeing many people who have had their benefits sanctions.

Julie said: "We're seeing an increase in the number of people who have nothing because their benefits have been sanctioned.

"We sometimes see nine sanction cases a day.

"We're also still seeing an increase of the working poor.

"That's people who are on zero-hours contracts or minimum wage. They just can't afford to live."

Julie is backing the Evening Times Food for Thought campaign, which is highlighting the work foodbanks do to support vulnerable people.

We would also like to see a more coordinated approach to foodbanks.

Julie said: "We'd all like for there to be no need for foodbanks but we need them and we can't stick our heads in the sand and ignore it."

As we reported, thieves broke into the foodbank earlier this year and made off with £1300 raised to help an injured hit-and-run victim.

They were flooded with donations and a security system was put in place.

However, Julie said she was still shaken by the incident.

She said: "I used to feel safe here, it used to feel like home. But now I'm a bit wary."

The foodbank is run by 2 members of staff and more than 20 volunteers.