People keen to support local food banks are invited to drop off items at any of the 12 Colten Care homes in Dorset as well as its head office in Ringwood.

The donations will be distributed to food banks battling to meet a surge in demand from families facing financial hardship and food poverty.

Mark Aitchison, Colten Care’s chief executive, said, “One consequence of COVID-19 and lockdowns has been that many food banks have seen a drop in donations while need has increased.

“We have therefore decided that in the run-up to Christmas, our homes will be helping to collect donations on behalf of their local food banks.

“People can simply come with food items and put them in a collection box near our reception or front door.

“We will gather and take the items to the local food bank which will then include them in the food parcels they provide to their clients.

“This initiative is a way we can support vulnerable families and individuals in the communities we serve during the pandemic.”

As well as providing collection boxes, Colten Care is donating food directly and inviting its regular suppliers to do the same.

The first to come on board is the wholesaler Bidfood who are contributing a range of tinned and dry foods.

The Trussell Trust, another of the food bank networks being supported by Colten Care, recently released a report about the impact of coronavirus on the use of food banks nationally.

It showed families with children had been hardest hit by food poverty since the start of the pandemic.

The trust forecasts a 61 per cent increase in demand this winter, with six emergency parcels needing to be given out every minute across the UK.

Items most requested by food banks typically include tinned fruit, tinned meat, cereal, soup, pasta, washing-up liquid, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes and pet food. Donations must be in-date and non-perishable.