Food banks are all that stands between some families and starvation, according to the head of a network of projects providing free groceries to destitute Scots.
The claim comes ahead of a summit meeting in Bathgate today bringing together workers from 25 Scottish food banks run by the Trussell Trust with MSPs, charity leaders and church and business representatives.
The opening of a bank in Moray last week brought the Trust's network to 34, with all but one opened in the last two years.
Ewan Gurr, Scotland Development Officer for the trust, laid the blame for the rise on the Coalition Government's welfare reforms.
He said: "If we didn't exist, people would starve and die, – it is as bad as that. Food poverty in the UK is massive at the moment.
"We are trying to mitigate the effects of welfare reform and food poverty and this event will allow us to look at a vision for what we want to achieve."
Mr Gurr added that the event would serve to support and encourage volunteers who have been working hard helping to feed and support several thousand people a month.
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