Foodbanks are on the rise across the country, there has never been a higher demand for food parcels and handouts — and it is this time of year that hits the needy hardest.

But Arthurlie Football Club are on a mission to help those who need it most.

The club has agreed to team up with East Renfrewshire Foodbank before Saturday’s scheduled fixture at Dunterlie.

Arthurlie will be collecting donations for the East Renfrewshire Foodbank from 11am until 2pm — and even in the event of the match being postponed, the collection will still go ahead.

Stan Esson, warehouse manager for East Renfrewshire Foodbank, explained: “At this time of year it is fantastic for a club like Arthurlie to get involved.

“The foodbank was only set up in September of last year and we have already managed to feed over 3,000 people in East Renfrewshire.

“This is all down to the good nature of people donating to the foodbank since its inception and hopefully it continues.

“We distribute the food from the cafe in Loundes Street under the umbrella of the Trussell Trust.

“They reckon the need for foodbanks in the future is not going to lower any time soon.

“So all the hard work and generosity from organisations and clubs like Arthurlie goes along way to helping those who need it most.” The club are looking for non perishable foodstuffs such as tinned fruit, veg, potates, steam pudding, rice pudding, Sugar (500g bags), coffee, teabags, UHT or powdered milk, pasta sauces, fruit juice cartons, tinned meat/fish, and also tomatoes, cereals, dried pasta and instant mash.