A Camberwell food bank has seen a decline in Christmas donations as the public combat the cost of living crisis.

The Spring Community Hub’s Service Manager, Abieyuwa Ehondor, said that the donations for this year’s annual Christmas donation week were “unpredictable”.

The food bank aimed to raise £25,000 this Christmas to provide free meals during the festive period but ended up with roughly £23,500.

Ehondor and her team saw a rise in the number of people needing their help this year.

“The increase in everything has made an increase in demand for our services. It has become more difficult for families,” she told South London Lines.

Ehondor added that she was grateful to those who donated food and money, despite the food price increase.

“Obviously, the people here are quite generous! We make do of what we have. We buy our own food to help families as much as we can.

“You know that the cost of living is not just for a particular set of people. It affects everybody. It shows that people who are already struggling have to struggle more.”

The Spring Community Hub aims to tackle the underlying causes of why people are in crisis and why they need to use the food banks.

“We find any way we can support our families. The Spring Community Hub is not all about giving food, it’s tackling the underlying cause, things that need to be addressed and done so families can stand on their feet, said Ehondor. “That is a key drive for us!”

Ehondor added that they were not just a food bank: “It’s not all about the food, you know. It’s about finding underlying issues and helping people. Help them get back to their jobs and be there for them.”