DECEMBER was the busiest month of the year for volunteers at Kendal’s King’s Food Bank, with nearly 2,000 meals delivered to those in need.

Manager Rachel Ellis blamed rising living costs, benefits delays and recent flooding as the major reasons why residents needed help.

She said the food bank had delivered 1,785 meals to people in Kendal during the month, bringing the annual total to 13,724.

Since it opened in February 2012, the food bank has delivered nearly 19,000 meals.

“We couldn’t survive without the generous donations of food and money from the public which are much appreciated,” she said. “These food boxes make a real difference to people in our community.

“We are together helping to fight against poverty and bring a real hope and value to the people who use our service.”

She added that previously January 2012 had been its busiest year and was expecting this month to be much the same.

Elsewhere Rachael Milling, of Windermere Food Bank, which is based at the Methodist Church on Main Road, said numbers remained steady over the period.

“We have a tiny population who rely on us,” she said. “It is a relatively affluent area with only a few clients who are absolutely desperate.

“People do become more desperate during the winter as it becomes a choice between food and heating but we have a generous population who donate lots of food.”