VOLUNTEERS at Largs Foodbank have issued a rallying call after a lifeline fresh food service set up during the pandemic ended.

Kind-hearted Pastors Tasha Allison and Steve Fountain at Largs Church of the Nazarene started making fresh meals for users in the town during lockdown, but have now taken a step back.

The team at the food bank is now calling on generous residents to step up and help plug the gap - with a warning that supplies will only last another few months.

Foodbank chief Wendy Low Thomson says the couple deserve praise for giving up hundreds of hours to prepare and deliver meals with the help of the Largs Resilience Team.

She added: “The church has been making these dishes for over two years, and now that it’s come to an end, we want to thank them for all their amazing support.

“It is a big loss to us but unfortunately the church has other things they need to be doing at the moment.

“It was a great addition for our users, many of whom didn’t have the finances to run their cookers, so it was great to get meals they could just stick in the microwave.

“Unfortunately we will have to buy in more fridge and freezer items to cover for the loss of that service, which will impact our funds, but it is just what is necessary.”

Wendy believes the lifeline service will see an increase in demand as the cost of living crisis puts a squeeze on the most vulnerable in Largs and the surrounding area.

She explained: “It’s quite frightening, even people who are in work are struggling really badly.

“We are expecting it to become a big issue as the months go on and the prices of everything gets higher.

“Even the most basic food items are increasing in costs, and it all adds up for those who were living from week-to-week or day-to-day before.”

Wendy admits that the charity is still in a precarious position without further support.

She said: “Donations have gone down as you would expect because everyone is facing a hard time. Even those of us who volunteer are watching our pennies.

“We can estimate if we don’t keep getting regular donations of both money and produce then the service has about four months left to run.

“However we are lucky that people in Largs are so generous, they have really supported the foodbank through everything.”

The charity posts a list of its most-needed items on its Facebook page every Thursday for people to donate.