The Trussell Trust said its 420 foodbanks, which are mostly run by churches, provided more than 204,000 three-day emergency supplies last summer, 74,000 of which went to children, 3,500 more than in May and June.
The charity said more than a third of food distributed by its network throughout the year goes to children, but there is extra financial pressure to provide main meals during the school holidays for families who rely on free school meals.
Last summer more food was distributed by the Trust than was donated, prompting the charity to ask the public to help out this year.
Samantha Stapley, director of operations at the Trussell Trust, said: “Foodbanks cannot, and must not, be a long-term solution to hunger at any time of year.
“No-one should face going hungry and, although our network will be doing all they can this summer to help families struggling to make the money they have stretch to cover the essentials, no charity can replace people having enough money for the basics.
“There are changes we can make as a nation to help during the holidays, but if we are to protect each other from hunger whatever the time of year, we have to go further than that.
“We know particular groups of people are most likely to need a foodbank, so let’s make sure no-one is swept into destitution.
“Our benefits system can, and must, act as an anchor to protect people from being pulled…
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