26 November 2012 Last updated at 01:21 ET

On the breadline: Food banks in Greater Manchester

Thousands of people are turning to food banks for help

A record number of people in the North West turned to food banks in the last six months because they cannot afford to feed themselves, a charity says.

The Trussell Trust said its network of food banks across Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester fed more than 13,500 people since April. This compares to just 10 people in same period last year.

Food Bank Network Development Officer Lynda Battarbee said: "Food banks are becoming increasingly important as people struggle with the rising cost of living and the static nature of income levels.

"In many cases this is forcing people to make difficult decisions between heating and eating, particularly as winter sets in.

Food banks: What is needed

Milk (UHT or powdered)
Sugar (500 g)
Fruit juice (carton)
Soup
Pasta sauces
Sponge pudding (tinned)
Tomatoes (tinned)
Cereals
Rice pudding (tinned)
Tea bags/ instant coffee
Instant mashed potato
Rice/ pasta
Tinned meat/ fish
Tinned fruit
Jam
Biscuits or snack bar

"Here in the North West, thousands of people a year are finding themselves going without food and are having to turn to food banks for help."

The reasons range from redundancy or reassessment of benefits to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income.

In addition to 20 Trussell Trust food banks in the region, FareShare North West has over 70 community food groups providing hundreds of people each day with meals, snacks or food parcels.

FareShare works with food manufacturers to stop food being wasted. Every year, 200 tonnes of surplus food are delivered to its depot at New Smithfield Market to be distributed to those in food poverty.

This week, the BBC is looking at food banks, the people who use them and why the need for food handouts is increasing.

Shoppers at Tesco can make food donations at supermarkets all weekend (1 & 2 December), with the help of FareShare and the Trussell Trust.

Selected items (listed) can be donated to the following food banks: