SIR - How situations have changed in short period of time.

Food banks almost unheard of not long ago are now an important addition to help desperate families and individuals through hard times brought about by so many different problems.

Churches from harvest festivals, schools and individuals in the city have demonstrated a warm hearted generous side to their nature by making food donations amount to three tonnes, a praiseworthy achievement.

People of the city have shown they can rise to a situation to help others not so fortunate as themselves.

At the same time there is another side to the nature of a small minority that of greed.

Vouchers from food are given by agencies to those they know to be in need but without a method to identify genuine cases of hardship is a free for all food bank putting temptation to those who may not be quite so hard up for a hand out of food bank goodies.

Volunteers who devote so much of their time I'm sure may practice some sort of screening to try to help those who should obtain help.

JOHN G PRITCHARD Ethiopia