The number of people relying on hand-outs from foodbanks across the Towns continues to rise.

Medway Foodbank supplied 2,766 emergency food parcels to people in need between April and September this year - a 17% rise compared to the same period last year.

Between April and September 2015, 2,363 parcels were given out. These figures include more than 1,000 children who have been helped each year.

Video: Demand for foodbanks grows

People are referred to the charity by a doctor, social worker or other professional and can visit one of several pick up points around the Towns to receive a parcel of food and other essentials designed to last three days, to help them through times of crisis.

The top three reasons for people in the Towns being referred to the foodbank in the last six months are benefit delay (27% of cases) benefit change (22%) and low income (21%).

Ian Childs, project manager of Medway Foodbank, said: “Anybody could find themselves in need of the foodbank.

Every week we meet local people like you or me, who have been hit by something unavoidable – such as illness, a delay in welfare payments or an unexpected bill - and are unable to afford food.”

The running costs for the foodbank are around £40,000 a year, all of which is raised locally.

Donations of food come from schools, churches, harvest festivals, supermarket collections, businesses and individuals. Last year more than 45 tonnes of food were donated and sorted at the foodbank’s warehouse in Strood.

Mr Childs said they would not have been able to help those 3,000 cases careful not to say 3,000 people without the public’s support.

He added: “It really is only with the community’s support that we’re able to provide vital emergency help when it most matters, and we’re constantly surprised and overwhelmed by the generosity of local people.”

Medway Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust. The charity has this week called for a direct telephone line between foodbanks and job centres.

Chief executive David McAuley said a hotline could “go a long way to improving foodbanks’ ability to help get people out of a crisis faster.”

To find out to donate or volunteer, visit medway.foodbank.org.uk/