Oldham food bank has said the situation has become a 'worry' for volunteers as donations continue to dwindle while demand inches into record-breaking numbers.

The food bank, which operates out of a warehouse on Vulcan Street, provides food parcels and support to struggling families in the borough all year round.

Throughout 2023, the charity fed an eyewatering 27,371 people, a significant rise from the 19,000 who received parcels the year before which the food bank said was "unheard of" at the time.

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However, fresh figures suggest demand is continuing to soar with the food bank supporting 11,245 people this year already, including 4,479 children which is 1,000 children more than compared to the same period in 2023.

It means the charity is currently providing between 2,500 to 3,000 meals per month to struggling families in Oldham which Tom Hood, the food bank's Organisational Development Coordinator, said is primarily going to support families with children and single people.

Tom said: "We've supplied about 11,000 people so far since January which, when you compare it to a similar time period from last year, it's not massively more but it has jumped up.

"We're seeing more demand and the problem is we're just getting barely any donations at all.

"We're at the point where our stock is gradually decreasing and because we're helping so many people, it has become a bit of a worry for us."

To make up for the dwindling number of donations, the food bank has been connecting with schools and businesses, but that hasn't made much of a difference yet.

He continued: "The cost of living crisis means people are struggling a bit more to donate as much as they would have done. It's just been gradually going down.

"People are just really struggling in general, things like housing are really tough in Oldham at the moment for people to get a hold of so I think that's having a big effect on it. It's happening everywhere.

"We are used to having lower donations this time of year because normally Christmas time and harvest time, we get quite a lot.

"Quite a few schools now have their own food bank so that has probably lowered our donations a little bit."

High on the list of items the food bank is running short of is squash, baby wipes, nappies, rice pudding, washing powder and detergent, tinned meat, tinned potatoes, tinned tomatoes, noodles, tea, blue or green milk, tinned fish, sugar, tinned fruit, cooking sauce, rice and pasta.

Tom added: "The main reason we're here is that we do want to support everyone who needs help.

"Whatever people can give us, however small at the moment, even if it's a bit of time or a bit of money, or one tin when they go into the shop, that makes a massive difference if a lot of people come together to do that.

"We want to be able to say it's fine to come and get help from the food bank but to do that we need other people to step in and give that support as well.

"We need to remind people about the need and I think a lot of food banks are struggling with this at the minute but it's just keeping that awareness up and letting people know what the need is like."

Aside from more donations, the food bank is also appealing for more volunteer drivers to chip in and help when and where they can.

When asked to describe the situation, Tom said it's not quite desperate but it's getting "towards the point where we're definitely worried".

He added: "The amount of money we're having to spend is not really comfortable for a charity."

Volunteers can get in touch with the food bank by emailing Tom via Tom@oldham.foodbank.org.uk and can either use their own vehicle or the food bank's van.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.