Desperate foodbanks appealed for donations tonight as demand from hungry families outstripped supply for the first time.
Britain’s biggest foodbank network, the Trussell Trust, warned of a “tsunami of need” this winter - sparking fears volunteers could run out of food to hand to hard-up households.
The charity gave away 46% more emergency parcels in August and September than the same months last year.
In an unprecedented move, it launched its first big emergency cash appeal to boost stock, saying: “For the first time ever, the gap between donations and food being distributed is widening and foodbanks have already used up the reserve stock that would normally help them get through winter.”
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It said foodbanks had bought approximately 1,400 tonnes of food – the equivalent of 111 double - decker buses this year, and warned the coming months could be its “worst winter yet”.
Trust chief executive Emma Revie said: “We never wanted to run an appeal like this - we would rather there was no need for foodbanks at all.
“But right now they are on the frontline of this cost-of-living emergency - we have no other option.”
The Trussell Trust expects to provide 1.3 million emergency food parcels in the next six months.
Each package contains enough food for three meals a day for three days - meaning up to 11.7m meals could be handed out from its 1,300 outlets.
The Trust’s foodbanks have spent on average almost £1,400 a month of their own funds topping up food donations - a figure it says “is not sustainable”.
Last year, they were spending just over £750 a month on average.
Ms Revie said: “Faced with the perfect storm of rising energy prices, inflation and a potential recession that is pushing people deeper into poverty, the soaring cost of living is driving a tsunami of need to foodbanks.
“Through this emergency appeal we hope to raise the vital funds required to ensure that foodbanks can meet this devastating rise in need and continue to support people who are experiencing hardship.”
The Trussell Trust has already received donations from multi-millionaire philanthropists Julia and Hans Rausing, of the family behind Tetrapek.
The couple said: “The Trussell Trust and its network of foodbanks are relied upon by many thousands of people, which is why we are supporting this important organisation once again.
“We hope others will also give generously to this emergency appeal in what is clearly an escalating crisis.”
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “While the Tories crash the economy and tear themselves apart, out in the real world families are at breaking point.
“Queues at food banks are up, mortgages are up and borrowing costs are up – that’s the damage the Tories have done.
“ Labour would bring much-needed stability to the economy and build a future where no-one goes hungry.”
