Demand for the Isle of Man Foodbank is ’expanding exponentially’ according to the charity.

However, operating director Neal Mellon says the charity is still ready to help anyone who needs it, especially as the school summer holidays approaches.

Mr Mellon said that, in the first year, the charity predominantly helped single people and provided about 150 parcels.

Now in its fourth year, that has reached more than 1,000 and was seeing more families come through the door.

It is growth in the demands on the ’third-sector’, which prompted Daphne Cane MHK for Garff to ask the Chief Minister Howard Quayle what action the government had taken to ease the potential of children going hungry during the summer holiday.

Mr Quayle replied: ’I believe no child should go hungry under any circumstances and it is very troubling that there appears to be evidence from last year showing an increase in the use of the food banks over the summer holidays by about 28%.’

He continued by saying food poverty was a ’complex area with multiple causes’.

They range from a sudden loss in earnings to long-term issues such as the rise in food prices.

Mr Mellon agrees with Mr Quayle that there often are short term issues, and says the average length of support people go to the Foodbank for is about six weeks.

He says during that time the charity helps people by trying to work out where they can save money and finance their lives better, but warns about simply picking a cheap option.

Mr Mellon said: ’People going hungry is a problem, but so is malnutrition, because people don’t know how to cook.

’So we try to help educate people on basics there too.

’We don’t just do food either, many people forget that toileteries are vital too, toilet paper is an essential of life, as are deodrants and sanitary towels, so we try our best to help people with whatever they need.’

He said that while there will be a spike in the summer, this happens during every school holiday and so along with Mrs Caine, welcomed the government’s efforts to examine the causes to help find the correct solution.

However, Mrs Caine said: ’It will be too late for this summer’.

The Foodbank is currently establishing its new base, Ballafletcher House in Cronkbourne, Braddan.

Mr Mellon said the charity welcomes all donations of food, cleaning and toiletary items.

For more information on how to donate, search Isle of Man Foodbank on Facebook or ring 311550.