A Nottinghamshire charity says it is having to put a limit on the number of food parcels it is giving out due to "overwhelming demand".
Ann Bremner, general manager of The Friary Drop-in Centre in West Bridgford, said the organisation was handing out 130 food parcels a week.
Ms Bremner said people were walking miles - from Bestwood, Arnold and Broxtowe - to collect the parcels.
She added the centre had 1,300 visitors last month alone.
"We are seeing more people sleeping on the streets due to the closure of some hostels and we have had more pressure put upon us as day centres close as well," Ms Bremner said.
"We see people who haven't eaten for days because they haven't got any money and what alternative do they have?"
The food parcel limit comes the day after a senior Nottinghamshire Police officer said the force had seen an increase in the number of people stealing food to feed themselves.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Broadbent said: "It's difficult to say how much shoplifting - stealing food to eat - is going up but... people are telling us they are stealing because they need to eat."
