SPIRITS are high among the volunteers at the Crosshill Centre based Benarty Food Bank as they reflected on Thursday's open day which saw visitors from all age groups pop in.

And these included three pupils from Lochgelly High School and St Kenneth's Primary School's pupil council.

Indeed, there was an amazing total of 191kgs of food taken to the food band by Lochgelly High youngsters which was warmly welcomed by the team.

Plus the range of more senior visitors between 2pm and 6pm of the open day also brought welcome supplies for the facility which is open three days a week to help individuals and families who need assistance. The food bank is open from 4pm to 6pm each of these days.

Co-ordinator at Benarty Food Bank, Stevie Nardone, reported that this year that the facility was helping on average 100 people per month facing difficulties.

He said: "It was brilliant to see the youngsters coming along to see us and also bringing with them some supplies to help augment our stocks."

But Stevie would love to see a few more volunteers joining the team at their Crosshill Centre base. He added: "You can never have enough volunteers and if we could get another four or five on board it would really help.

"If someone could give a couple of hours a month that would be good and make a difference. If anyone would like to get involved just pop along one of the days we are open and speak to any of our leaders, myself, Maggie Bell, Davy Moore or my wife Mary or give me a ring on 01592 869151 or on 07890165054."

The Benarty and Cowdenbeath Food Banks are satellites of the Trussell Trust organised Dunfermline Food Bank. Food banks partner with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a food bank voucher which gives them the opportunity to access help from a facility such as the one at Benarty.