Communities across Stewartry came together to help people in need over the festive period.
People were “extremely generous” with donations of food and toys which were distributed ahead of the big day.
One project to receive such backing was the community pantry run by Dalbeattie Community Initiative.
The initiative’s chief executive, Michelle McRobert, said: “We’ve been running for four years and, as always when it gets to November, the community pulls together.
“Everyone is extremely generous, donations increase and we had a really good reaction to our Christmas gift appeal.
“We had a huge number of gifts to give out to those who are the most in need.
“The numbers at the pantry themselves have been steady throughout the year, we’re seeing about 300 shoppers a month generally.
“That hasn’t necessarily increased at Christmas time but we’ve definitely seen an increase since the weather has turned.
“We have run our Christmas hamper initiative this year again, we did that last year for the first time, where people could purchase a very low cost Christmas hamper which is a full roast dinner plus some festive extras.
“Demand for that has been a little bit higher than last year.
“There is still a requirement for people to access low cost food just to make ends meet.”
Stepping Stones Community Larder and Food Bank in Castle Douglas also saw a huge demand.
People pay an annual £1 membership and then pay £3 a week to receive 10 items of staple food items and goods from chillers and freezers, as well as free fruit, veg and bakery items. Families pay £6 for 20 items.
Manager Leanne Latta, said: “This is my second year at Christmas. I knew last year was busy but in the last few weeks we have inundated.
“The larder membership has gone through the roof, we had another two people joining last week. It is really busy.
“The food we buy in is flying out the door. People can easily go away with £20 of stuff for £3 or about £40 worth for £6.
“Aldi opening has had a big impact, we get a lot of their surplus food and give that away free.
“Food demand has gone through the roof, we’ve been contacted by social work as people are panicking at this time of year and we want to help.
“The ultimate goal is they join the larder and see how brilliant it is.”
As well as donations of food, the project also received sackfuls of toys thanks to an appeal from Royal Mail Castle Douglas cover manager Graeme Woods, which was also backed by Royal Mail Team Scotland and Castle Douglas postmaster Colin Wilson.
Leanne added: “It is amazing and overwhelming, there was so much.
“We had a list of people in need to share with external organisations, like social work, midwives on-call. It’s been hectic.
“At this time of year the support is off the scale.
“We picked up a food collection from Tesco, where their customers buy stuff and put it in baskets.
“It was huge – I think it was just more than 40 kilos.
“By luck we had Hardgate Primary School kids in helping us so they were able to colour code it and help put it
out.
“They’d brought a collection, then Tesco, then the Co-op, then the church –- there was food everywhere!”
Stewartry Food Bank was launched in 2012 and now focuses on the Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse, Dundrennan and Twynholm areas.
It sends out around 500 parcels over the course of the year.
The organisation’s Marian Dixon, said: “The support from the community is absolutely brilliant. We have people who regularly donate money, people who will say just to speak to them if we need more.
“I get on my doorstep envelopes with £100 in and don’t know who they’re from.
“Kirkcudbright is a brilliant town for community.
“We’ve never had to have a fundraising effort, which is brilliant.
“The food’s always there and if it isn’t we’ve got the money to build it up.”
One thing that concerns Marian is the lack of elderly people coming for help – a situation she fears may be repeated across other parts of the Stewartry.
She added: “There’s nothing to be ashamed about ringing up and saying you can’t manage.
“Ours is all anonymous.
“Unless they pick the parcel up themselves, the only person who knows who they are is the person who delivers the parcel.
“There’s a lady at Kirkcudbright Development Trust who has a dedicated mobile phone just for the food bank.
“They ring her and she rings us which means we can put the parcels together.”