This is Claire, our manager. (This is a pre-Covid photo and so it is not a social distancing fail!)

She was on the radio recently, being interviewed about the upcoming reduction in Universal Credit. She described the effect on us as being like Christmas coming early.

If you didnt know the background that might have seemed an odd thing to say. However, we know exactly what she meant. The weeks leading up to Christmas are our busiest of the year - both in increasing need for our services and in the astonishing level of donations coming in to us.

The Universal Credit cut, if it happens (and we still hope it doesnt), will add greatly to the level of need. As will moving into the winter months - this year more than ever because of the spiralling fuel prices - the level of need increases.

But its also an amazing time for donations to us. Christmas seems to inspire generosity. 2020 was remarkable. Many people and organisations gave us money - often setting up a fundraising page for us on JustGiving or using our own JustGiving page - rather than food donations. That was partly because of Covid but it was actually very helpful for us. We love food donations, but if we get too much (we have NEVER had too much food!) in a short space of time it creates real challenges for sorting and storage.

So weve set up this winter/Christmas appeal on JustGiving.

Please consider giving through it.

We are hoping to include small gifts with our parcels before Christmas especially if there are children involved.

Please contact us via FaceBook or email info@glasgowsw.foodbank.org.uk if you have any questions about any of this.

Its probably a bit early to wish you a Happy Christmas but not if we are working together to try to make Christmas and this winter a bit more bearable for those in need.

Thank you.