Letter to the editor: For many on low pay and with rising rent costs, Christmas will be a time when many will be seeking to part with the family pet or think about whether they will have breakfast or a hot meal.

Meanwhile, for many elderly residents, the food for the cat will come before any thoughts of themselves as the huge utility bill and fear of the new one will force many to go without.

We Care Independent Food Banks will this Christmas be feeding hundreds of local people in food crises, many working 60 hours a week, but with high rents and low pay, just scraping a living at the bottom.

We Care is the largest independent food bank in the UK, feeding both people and pets this Christmas.

We urgently need more donations of food, clothes, furniture and cash to ensure people in need do get a Christmas and that children do not wake up on Christmas morning to find the family pet donated to an animal shelter because they are too poor to feed it any longer.

We would also ask all readers to check on your neighbours and family members this Christmas, for many poverty is something they are too ashamed to admit.

Please help us continue our work – check us out on We Care Facebook page or donate, a regular monthly payment would be great.

We are open every day of the year.

We Care’s sort code is: 08-92-99, the charity’s account number is: 65659328.

RAY WOOLFORD, BARBARA JANISZEWSKA AND BARBARA RAYMOND, LEWISHAM