Hunger remains a serious concern for many families as hundreds more people are seeking emergency food supplies from the Medway Foodbank this year compared to last.

Between April and September 2015, the food bank gave out 2,362 three-day emergency packages to people in crisis. That is more than 300 up on the year before.

Of those, 852 went directly to children. As a result of the increased demand, the Medway Messenger this week launches its Christmas Appeal, urging readers to support the cause.

Medway Foodbank project manager Ian Childs said: “We are shocked to see that the number of people in food poverty continued to rise though the warmer months. With colder weather now here, we are concerned for those who continue to struggle with the choice to ‘heat or eat’.”

In the last six months people in the Towns donated 19 tonnes of food, and more than 100 people volunteered. The food bank has served 14,000 people over the past three years and schools, businesses and faith groups have provided vital support.

That includes the team at TSB in Chatham High Street, who raised £400 by selling books and holding a raffle, a bake sale and ‘name the bear’ and ‘guess the sweets’ competitions.

They are also to hold a chocolate tombola before Christmas.

Mr Childs said: “It is great that the staff of the TSB realise that we need funds as well as food to run the Medway Foodbank and are prepared to put the effort into this. We really appreciate what they have done. We will be able to help more people in crisis in Medway this Christmas as a result.”

Winter usually sees a rise in people’s use of food banks, as heating costs soar. In December 2014 referrals to Trussell Trust food banks nationally were 53% higher than the average across other months, with over 130,000 three-day food supplies given out in that month alone.

As well as providing emergency food, Medway Foodbank also gives out essentials like washing powder, nappies and hygiene products to families who are struggling, as well as referring them to other services in the local area.

Although the group needs the obvious food and essential items, the team is aiming to set up a group called Medway Foodbank’s 500 Friends. The aim is to ask people to commit to donating £1 a week to keep the organisation going.

Due to become an independent charity next year, Mr Childs said the future was always uncertain and they could not look much beyond a month ahead because of financial uncertainties.

Mr Childs added: “It is not a sustainable way to run a charity. When you think we’ve helped thousands, finding a few hundred who can afford £1 a week shouldn’t seem such a huge task.

“We need some financial stability going forward, at the moment. As a Christian organisation, we’re just going ahead on faith, because the people of Medway need us. We are looking at ways to recognise these 500 people who have opened their hearts, as well.”

There are running costs for the group, although they keep them minimal. The three part-time employees have taken less between them over the past three years than the national average salary of around £26,500.