MORE than 100 lunches were delivered to individuals in need on Christmas Day in Teignbridge.

The combined effort of Homeless in Teignbridge Support along with the Alice Cross Centre, Volunteering In Health and Kingsway Residents Association saw volunteers deliver the dinners around Teignbridge, including rough sleepers.

KRA trustee and local councillor Dave Matthews, with his partner Amy Furlong, and other volunteers, cooked the dinners, thanks to the support of Teignmouth Rugby Club which loaned its kitchen.

HITS chairman Cllr David Cox said the charity had reported its busiest year ever. Cuts to Universal Credit and the increasing cost of living are thought to be to blame for the jump in demand.

Trustee Tricia Kirby as had to put her Teignmouth based garden ornaments business on hold while she was volunteering full time at the foodbank.

Cllr Cox said: ‘We have had to ask our existing volunteers and new volunteers to work over weekends and evenings to keep up with demand, it has been a logistical challenge.

‘However, the exceptional demand in terms of food and money has been met by the continuing generosity of local businesses, churches, schools, whole villages and individuals.’

The charity says there is a growing group of people previously in good jobs and enjoying comfortable incomes who have been forced to use food banks and claim welfare benefits for the first time because of the pandemic.

Tricia said: ‘HITS is providing food and other support to a new influx of middle-income families.

‘Typically, with mortgages, cars and often self-employed or even small business owners, they had been plunged into crisis by Covid-related job losses and gaps in the social security system.’

Cllr Cox added: ‘We now see Citizens Advice and other agencies referring families to the foodbank who before the pandemic were able to pay their bills and put food on the table. Many were embarrassed to use the foodbank, they are independent and hard-working and feel they have failed but it really is a case of there but by the grace of God go I.’

Cllr Matthews thanked everyone who had helped in the Christmas Day effort.

He said: ‘More than 100 meals were cooked and delivered to those in need. Without the team behind the operation it would be near impossible. The feedback we received was overwhelming and really puts into perspective why we do this.

‘We were blown away from the support shown by all the volunteers, thank you doesn’t seem enough.’