AT the start of December, Kathleen Gibbons' cupboards were bare and she did not know where to turn to for help with feeding her children.
That is, until a friend told her about the food bank based at The Chase Neighbourhood Centre, in St Ann's.
Mum-of-two Kathleen, 49, lost her partner in June and things began to spin out of control. She started to drink too much and then found out her employment support allowance was being stopped.
She said: "I didn't know where to turn. But then I went to the food bank and the lady was so supportive. I've sorted out the drinking and I feel more positive.
"Without the food bank I would be in a bad way. It helped my children and me and now I have bright hopes for the future and can get my life back on track."
The Post's Five Tons of Tins campaign, which launched on October 21, aimed to boost the county food banks' supplies in time for Christmas – a target which we have smashed.
Churches, businesses, schools, community groups, nurseries and individuals have helped us to collect a staggering 11.4 tons.
That's about the same weight as two African elephants. If they were placed in a line, the 26,000 tins collected would stretch more than 2km along Derby Road from the Post's headquarters to the Queen's Medical Centre.
One of the biggest boosts to the campaign came from staff and councillors at Gedling Borough Council, who handed in three tons of food to the Arnold food bank.
Council leader John Clarke said: "I'm proud that Gedling Borough Council has played a small part in smashing the Post's five-ton target and almost doubling it, and I welcome campaigns such as this that highlight the need that's out there in our communities."
The Co-op also threw its weight behind the campaign by agreeing to donate 100 tins from each of its 38 stores across Notts and parts of Derbyshire, as well as encouraging shoppers to donate – bringing in more than 1.6 tons.
Glyn Rotherham, regional operations manager for the Co-operative Food, said: "We hope that our efforts will help to ensure the local food banks are stocked for those people in need this Christmas."
We also want to say a big thank-you to Experian, which donated a ton of tins.
Rosea Pickering, recruitment partner in human resources, who co-ordinated the company's efforts, said: "Staff at Experian offices across Nottingham have taken the campaign to their hearts and collected a whopping one ton of tins, which we dropped off at the St Ann's food bank.
"Knowing that our efforts will help people in genuine need this Christmas has made it all worthwhile."
Another of our big helpers were the Freemasons of Nottinghamshire, who collected 2,000 tins – adding nearly a ton.
Provincial grand master Robin Wilson said: "The campaign really captured the imagination of our members and we have been astounded by how many tins we've collected."
Scouts across Notts held collections and between them collected 1,300 tins – more than half a ton.
County commission Matt Rooney said: "Judging from the reaction from our members this year, it is something we would absolutely support next year."
South Notts College's nursery at West Bridgford filled three large boxes with donations from staff, students and parents.
Afaf Shakib, nursery supervisor, said: "We took part as we felt it was good for our children to help them understand the importance of being part of a diverse community, where caring for others will help them appreciate that not everyone might be as lucky as they are."
Wendy White, volunteer at the Clifton food bank, said: "We have noticed a real difference thanks to the Post's campaign and without it we would have had less food to give to people in need."
