Volunteers at the Portland Food Bank have been working hard over the festive period to make sure that nobody goes without over Christmas.
The Portland Food Bank has around 40 volunteers and was set up 10 years ago. Many of the original volunteers are still part of the team.
They work to ensure that people suffering from food poverty on the island have the support they need.
The foodbank is located in St Johns Church Hall, Ventnor Road, Portland, DT5 1JE. It is usually open from 9.30am to 11.30am on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Upon entering users of the service are greeted by several tables laid out with food with a number of shopping carts nearby.
Sara Farmer has been the manager of the Portland Food Bank since 2022. She said: "When people come in we hope they will leave with a spring in their step.
"Everybody is referred by different organisations which means that the people who need help receive it.
"As volunteers, we help out at the food bank to support people in the community who are suffering from food poverty, which we can only do what we do through the generous donations from the local people of Portland."
The cost of living crisis has hit hard, with the food bank seeing greater use every month this year when compared to 2022.
Sara added: "The whole year has been busier than last year. People are struggling with their fuel bills and the rent has gone up.
"I have been working with people and I have been into people's houses that have no food at all. Some people, once they pay all their bills, have only £9 left for food a month.
"In another family, the husband can no longer work because of illness and his wife is now the sole provider, so they have gone from two incomes to one which wasn't even half, and they have four teens in the house. It is just really difficult and it is something, we are seeing this more and more."
For those visiting the service for the first time, it can be difficult to ask for help.
"The first time they come it is quite daunting, they find it hard to come inside but once they do they get a warm welcome," added Sara, "We really want to support people to get out of poverty.
"After we have been supporting them for a few weeks you do see a remarkable difference in the people and that is really nice to see, people with more hope."
This year the food bank has worked with local businesses to put together 100 Christmas hampers to be delivered to families in Portland containing everything they need to have a classic Christmas dinner. Around £4,000 was raised from businesses for the hampers.
The food bank also provides shampoo and other toiletries. Things that people in a pinch often forgo, but can make a big difference.
Joyce Berry has been a volunteer at the foodbank for three years. She herself has had a period of financial difficulty, which is one of the reasons that she feels so strongly about helping others. She said: "I have been in that position of being destitute and homeless so I know what that is like and it is worrying because you just don't know what to do. So I feel quite strongly about helping.
"Helping here gets me out and I have made some friends doing this whilst helping people."
John Mason comes as far as Portesham to help at the food bank, and he has done so for six and a half years. John works with the people in his village to make regular donations to the bank. He said: "Portland is a place of considerable need and (as a smaller food bank) it is very personal. People are appreciative, they are really lovely people.
"People who give the least seem to give the most. There are incredibly good people on Portland.
"It is a shame (food poverty) happens but it does. I think the first thing it is an absolute disgrace that people should have to use food banks in modern society. It is interesting how many people who come here who are in work."
Volunteer Carole has noticed a trend in people whom she hasn't seen in years once again needing the service. She said: "I have been a volunteer here for six years. In that time you get people who come in every week a few years ago who haven't needed the service since, but with how things are at the moment they have had to come back this year.
"It is nice when people can stop coming, it really means that people are going through a faze in their life which is more stable."
Here is a list of some of its referrers:
- Citizens Advice; available at the foodbank on Tuesday mornings
- Island Community Action – Easton
- Churches on Portland
- Dorset Council
- Christians Against Poverty
- Royal Manor Health Centre Reception
- Serra Properties, Fortuneswell
- Tesco Community Champion
- First Point – at the Information Shop in Weymouth
- The Lantern Trust
You can give donations of food and non-grocery items at Tesco and Co-Op stores on the island; simply place your gifts in the trolleys or baskets located after the checkouts in the stores.
You can also bring donations to the food bank on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 9.30am and 11.30am.
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