BRAINTREE Food Bank has already helped 1,595 people this year with emergency supplies, more than the total figure throughout 2012.
The four distribution centres across the district have faced increasing demand throughout recent months, but have also been inundated with donations from the public responding to their appeals.
However, organisers are stressing that this generosity must continue through the winter months to cope with the growing demand.
"The support we have received from local schools and churches in particular has been phenomenal. We now have a supply of food that will comfortably last for a few months in the event of donation levels dwindling," said Mark Food, PR officer at the charity.
"However, I would like to emphasise the need for on-going donations if we are going to satisfy the growing demand for our service."
The 42-year-old's own motivation for getting involved with the charity six months ago came as a result of hearing about the rise in the number of children turning up at his daughter's school hungry.
"Teachers at my daughter Amelie's school started to put on a breakfast club for children due to the number that were turning up having clearly not had anything to eat. It was this that made we want to do what I could to help," he said.
Between April 1 and October 25 the Braintree district centres fed 1,595 people, of which 567 were children, which is more than the total fed throughout the 12 months of 2012.
"It's only when the cold really digs in that we will know how it will impact upon the eating versus heating dilemma," said Maggie Drewitt, one of 250 volunteers across the centres.
"One of the biggest challenges we face is getting the word out to the older generation who are unable to get to the agencies."
A FOOD pantry based in Maldon provides 33 food parcels to needy families in the district on a typical Wednesday, giving around 82 people vital groceries.
But volunteers are bracing themselves for an increase yet again over the winter months as energy bills soar.
"Even during the summer I heard people complaining about energy bills so once they have to put the heating on it's really going to hit them hard," said Pastor Rob Sefton, who runs the centre based on Wantz Road.
"We see a real variation of people come to us – from single people to large families of four or five children.
"Generally the people we see are just struggling to make ends meet. The cost of living and inflation are rising and incomes just can't keep up."
In the two and a half years since the centre opened, 2,636 food parcels have been provided, giving an estimated 7,400 people food.
But in the last three months organisers have seen a 30 per cent increase in the number of people turning to them for help.
And a few miles down the road in Burnham on Crouch, the Dengie Food Pantry is also steeling itself for a surge due to winter fuel bills.
The Rev Tony Jones, from the pantry which opened in November 2012, said: "We are bracing ourselves for winter because of energy bills going up and the worry of 'heating or eating.'
"We do expect quite a rush once the cold sets in. But people in the area have been very generous with donations so we should be well stocked.
"Our primary job is to provide emergency food but we understand that the social contact people receive when they come here is very important too.
"We have tables out for tea and coffee so people can chat."
The Dengie Food Pantry, which has been open for a year, is based at the Baptist Church in Station Road, Burnham, on Tuesday between 10am and 1pm.
A new branch is now open at Christ Church, North Street, Southminster on Wednesdays between 10am until noon.
