I WANT to say 'three cheers' for the organisers of our local food bank. It's clear from your lead article last week that many families are reliant on their good work. The local food bank is an expression of the community spirit we are lucky enough to enjoy in our area. But isn't it a terrible indictment of the Coalition government that so many people in our prosperous country have to rely on food banks? As your article pointed out, most people using food banks are actually in work, but on such low salaries that they cannot survive without support. Tory grandees like Norman Tebbit say that people will always want something for nothing, so deny that there is really growing need. The truth is that people use food banks as a last resort and are ashamed to be dependent on charity. The problem is getting worse; the Trussell Trust reported it handed out over 900,000 food parcels in the last year, up from 350,000 the previous year. Chancellor George Osborne famously said 'we are all in this together'; perhaps he can explain this to the people using food banks. In his best-selling new book, Capital, economist Thomas Piketty explains the growing disparity between the very rich and the rest of society. It's a very dangerous trend. Unless government corrects it, and narrows the gap between rich and poor, we will sow the seeds of conflict in our society and deeply damage the community spirit we enjoy today. Brendan Bold Leather Tor Close Yelverton I WOULD like to express my sincere gratitude to the Times for publishing details from Tavistock Foodbank's annual report, and for recognising that this is an area that the general public in Tavistock remain committed to supporting. On that note, could I also, on behalf of myself and the committee, say a huge thank you to all our volunteers, referring agencies and those who donate food, both regularly and randomly.   The article provoked many passionate conversations with myself and the team and we always welcome an opportunity to raise awareness as to how difficult life can be for some of our neighbours and friends. Donations can be taken to PAYLess Discount Store, St Eustachius' Parish Church, where there is a box at the back of church, or on Fridays, 10am to 2pm at the Lower Deck Cafe, URC, Russell Street. Valerie O'Neill PAYLess Discount Store Brook Street Tavistock