Cardigan Foodbank will hold a three day food collection at Tesco, Cardigan, this week.

Volunteers say there is a steady increase in demand for food parcels, especially as the school holiday s approach.

Phil Buckman, manager of Cardigan Foodbank, said: "This is such an important collection for us and for the people we will eventually hand the food onto in our emergency crisis food parcels. Without the two annual collections Tesco's let us do outside their stores the food bank would struggle to survive."

The bi-annual collections are always in July, to coincide with the ensuing school holidays and in December to coincide with the festive season.

"It is at these times that more people are stretched and find themselves in a crisis", said Phil. "In the summer school children have the long six to seven week holiday. Some parents who rely on their children having free or supported school meals all of a sudden have to find a way of feeding them. Every year we see an increase in numbers of people needing an emergency food parcel to help them get by. Of course there are many other reasons, the main one being benefit changes, delays and stoppages."

Last year’s store collection in December added more than 2,000 kilos of food, and a similar amount has been donated from many regular donators including churches, clubs and organisations and dozens of individuals.

Phil added: "You might think with such large amounts of food coming in we would be food rich but unfortunately the need is ongoing and has grown by around 30% in the last 12 months. Whilst we are always so impressed with the generosity of the people of Cardigan and around, the shelves don't stay full for long.”

Once the food has been collected it then has to be transferred to the Foodbank situated in the loft of New Life Church to be sorted.

Volunteers will be outside Tesco's from 9am to 6pm on July 3, 4 and 5. From 6pm each day, Tesco staff will man the trollies and collect until 10pm.

For further information visit www.cardigan.foodbank.org.uk or call 07870 913960.