In addition, Dandara staff packed boxes with cereal, soup, pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes, beans, fruit juice and biscuits and delivered them to the bank in Gorgie Road, which is run by the Trussell Trust.

The Trust provided 1.3 million emergency food parcels to people in crisis in the UK between April and September alone this year. The charity, which supports more than 1,300 food bank centres across the UK, says the cost of living emergency has created a ‘tsunami of need’, as people struggle to survive amid the soaring cost of living.

It has warned that food banks are at ‘breaking point’ and set to face the busiest winter yet.

Lisa Archibald, head of sales at Dandara East Scotland, said: “Times are really hard for so many people, it is an absolute tragedy that some families are having to choose between eating and heating their homes. We are delighted to be able to offer some help and are full of admiration for the hard work that the charity and its volunteers do to support those who need it most.”

New research to be released by the charity next year shows that one in five people referred to a food bank in the Trussell Trust network are in working households.

To find out more about supporting or using the services of Edinburgh SW Food Bank visit the website.