THE number of people using a county charity to help put food on the table has jumped by 77 per cent compared to last year, as the cost-of-living crisis hits families across East Lothian hard.

East Lothian Foodbank reported another extremely busy month during June, with children making up more than a third of people using the service.

Worryingly, the manager of the Tranent-based charity has warned that life for many could get even tougher during the winter months.

In total, 400 food parcels were given out in June, feeding more than 920 people – 37 per cent of whom were children.

Elaine Morrison said: “Sadly, these statistics speak for themselves and continue to be a stark reflection of how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting our communities.

“People are in many instances choosing between ‘heating or eating’ and we have seen an increase in the number of people asking for ‘no-cook’ food parcels.

'Demand far outweighs what is being donated'

“I am heartened, however, that even in difficult times, the good folk in the county are continuing to support the foodbank in whatever way they can.

“Although times are hard, we have seen an increase in food donations compared to the same time last year.

“Despite this generous support, demand still far outweighs what is being donated at the moment and we often have to purchase supplies for our parcels.

“We are expecting a difficult winter ahead.”

Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, called for firmer action to tackle poverty locally and said that more needed to be done.

He said: “I don’t need to say again that poverty in East Lothian is on the rise.

“We are seeing people who were previously just scraping by entering poverty for the first time due to the cost-of-living crisis we are all experiencing.

'Unsustainable situation'

“The issue is no longer debt as a result of credit, the issue is now that people’s basic outgoings are larger than their income.

“This is an unsustainable situation which has driven the increase in the need for foodbank parcels.

“East Lothian Foodbank is the largest foodbank in the county; however, the full scale of the crisis is unclear, as most towns and villages have their own smaller foodbank support.”

Reasons for referral to the Tranent-based charity include low income, benefit changes or delays, SWF crisis grants, debt and domestic abuse.

Referrals due to low income are at their highest ever, while 62 per cent of all referrals for debt cited utility bills as the reason for the debt they were experiencing.

'Set to get worse'

Mr McLennan said that the figures “worry me deeply” and told the Courier: “This is only set to get worse as the next energy hike takes effect in October, no doubt pushing even more people deeper into poverty as winter comes.

“Firm action is needed to tackle poverty in East Lothian.

“We need whoever becomes the next Prime Minister to take affirmative action to put an end to the cost-of-living crisis, otherwise price increases will continue to undermine the great work already happening both nationally and locally across Scotland.

“I will continue to chair the East Lothian Poverty Action Group as local MSP and will do all that I can to support those on the ground in our communities who are doing what they can to help people in or on the edges of poverty.”

Pat Lemmon co-founded the Lammermuir Larder in Haddington in early 2021.

She said: “The highest month we ever had was in May this year.

“June was very similar in numbers and the number dropped slightly in July.

“We saw a decline by not much, about four per cent, for July.

“In May, we saw a 27 per cent increase compared to the previous month.”

'No idea the extent of the problems'

Mrs Lemmon highlighted that members of the public, businesses and organisations were continuing to back the good cause and thanked them for their efforts.

She added: “In an ideal world, there would be no need for us.

“When we first started, we were naïve to think it was a short-term thing.

“We had no idea the extent of the problems that were there.

“The most shocking thing was the number of working families struggling to buy baby formula and nappies.

“In Haddington, we get a lot of support from individuals, businesses and the large businesses as well.

“We get a lot of support from the churches and Haddington and Lammermuir Area Partnership (HALAP), who have made poverty a priority.

“They have been extremely supportive and we also work with New Horizons with young people.”