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Real Stories
“The foodbank was a lifesaver.” Your support is helping us to change lives.
Holly’s Story
“The people at the foodbank were wonderful, they understood and saved us.”
Holly was 29 and a single parent to her daughter Phoebe. She had never claimed benefits and lived in a council flat in a deprived area where drug dealing took place outside her door. Holly accepted alternative accommodation that was closer to her parents as she wanted to bring her daughter up in a better, safer environment.
As well as borrowing money from her parents to pay for her move, Holly worked part time and sold second hand clothes online as well as in her employer’s shop.
Under normal circumstances Holly could just about scrape by but, when her daughter became ill and had to spend time in hospital, Holly was forced to stop working for three weeks. When Phoebe recovered, they returned home to empty kitchen cupboards, bills racking up and no income to support them.
Holly went to the Citizens Advice Bureau and they referred her to the foodbank. She said: “The people at the foodbank were wonderful, they understood and saved us.”
Although Holly’s situation is still precarious, knowing the foodbank is there in an emergency is a huge weight off her shoulders.
Richard’s Story
“Without the foodbank, I don’t think I would be here today.”
Richard was a fit and healthy 49-year-old who had spent six years in the Police and twelve years in the Royal Military Police.
This changed when a chest infection led to a heart condition followed by two strokes and multiple mini strokes. Richard’s illness left him unable to work.
Richard’s situation deteriorated further when he separated from his wife and moved out of their family home. Due to this change of address his Employment Support Allowance was delayed. Richard needs 35 tablets a day, but the cost of travelling to collect his prescriptions left him without enough money for food, He spoke to his local Citizens Advice Bureau and they referred him to the foodbank.
Richard said: “The volunteers were fantastic, offering a chat and a shoulder to cry on. I suffer from depression as well and without the foodbank I don’t think I would be here today.”
Richard sees his 10-year-old daughter every weekend but admits he has sometimes skipped meals so she can eat. He explains: “It’s a really tough situation that people must decide whether they can feed themselves, feed their children or put the heating on. It’s a case of having to budget or going without.”
Things are still tough for Richard. He’s on the waiting list for a heart transplant and will be on medication for the rest of his life, but he’s grateful that the foodbank is available if he ever needs extra help.