THE number of food banks in Bury is on the rise as residents face a “cost of living crisis”, according to a councillor.

Elton Cllr James Frith said it is “totally unacceptable” that people are having to use food banks, which are charitable organisations set up to distribute food to those in need.

A number of different organisations are operating in Bury, such as churches collecting for Porch Boxes like Bridge Methodist Church in Radcliffe and Tottington Methodist Church.

Porch Boxes is a project which calls for donations of essential items such as tinned food and toiletries and creates ‘crisis packs’, which are distributed to those in need.

There are also plans to introduce a food bank for veterans in Bury next year, after the Bury Council armed forces covenant, which supports veterans in civilian life, reported an increase in former servicemen and women falling on hard times.

In addition, the Barnardo’s Rachel House project in Mossfield Close, Bury, provides temporary residential care for up to 12 young people, and was boosted when Cllr Frith delivered more than 500 items of food and drink.

Cllr Frith paid tribute to the staff and young people he met and the work of the charity in Bury.

He said: “The spirit and determination of the young people that I met when faced with such difficulty and hardship is remarkable.

“So too is the brilliant work charities like Barnardo’s, and others, do for some of our most vulnerable people at Christmas and all year round.

“Those I met face a lack of access to housing, employ-ment opportunities and rising bills. It’s typical of the cost of living crisis facing more and more people in Bury.

“It’s totally unacceptable in this day and age that people should have to rely on food banks. I know of three new food bank collections just opened in our town in recent weeks.”

Samara Barnes, acting project worker for Barnardo’s, said: “Many of our young people are in need of food parcels.”