Inside this week's Central Fife Times newspaper, you'll find a donations bag.

We’re urging readers, if they can, to fill it with goods for Dunfermline Foodbank.

With the cost of living crisis affecting more and more people, we know that big-hearted Times readers will be willing to do their bit to help, so we’re asking you to dig deep and give a little help to those who need it.

As prices rise, there's a growing number of people turning to their local foodbank – but that means they are struggling to keep up with demand.

Dunfermline Foodbank, which operates the foodbanks in Cowdenbeath and Benarty, as well as Inverkeithing and Rosyth, is desperately in need of more supplies.

So the Central Fife Times Foodbank Appeal, generously sponsored by Stagecoach, couldn't come at a much more important time.

Central Fife Times: The team at Stagecoach East Scotland are supporting the Central Fife Times foodbank appeal. The team at Stagecoach East Scotland are supporting the Central Fife Times foodbank appeal. (Image: David Wardle)

The foodbank's project manager, Sandra Beveridge, said many in the local community were feeling the pinch and turning to their services for help.

"We are still extremely busy and donations are not what they used to be, obviously, because of the crisis that everybody is in," she said. "The demand is so great we just can't keep up with it. In the last year, we've fed over 9,000 people. Although people in the area are very generous, currently it is just not enough to keep up with the demand."

The foodbank is currently fine for some items, such as toiletries and other products, and has a surplus of soup, beans and pasta.

But it's experiencing a shortage of many other items, with the following items being the most wanted:

  • Instant Mash
  • Cheesy Pasta
  • Sponge Puddings
  • Tinned Fruit
  • Tinned Custard/Rice
  • Tinned Macaroni
  • Tinned Meat
  • Tinned Veg
  • UHT Milk
  • Coffee
  • Mug Shots
  • Noodles
  • Savoury Rice

Given the current situation, Sandra is grateful for any support people can give to the foodbank.

She said: “We want to say a huge thank you to the Central Fife Times and its sponsor Stagecoach for running this campaign for us to get more donations, and we hope that your readers, if they can, will help support us.

"It’s needed now more than ever as clients are on the increase. It’s just a very difficult time for everybody.”

Central Fife Times: A typical foodbank parcel.A typical foodbank parcel. (Image: Contributed)

Once you’ve filled your donations bag, please drop it off at our Pitreavie office or one of the foodbank's drop-off points which can be found on the website https://dunfermline.foodbank.org.uk.

Donation points include a number in Cowdenbeath, including Wee Jimmies, High Street (collection point in the public house); Co-op Food, Dalbeath Crescent (6am-10pm, collection point in store); and Morrisons, Fountain Place (7am-10pm, permanent collection point in store).

Your support is needed more than ever. Thank you in advance for your help and generous donations.