Bill, from Birmingham, is 64-years-old and has worked hard all his life – both in the NHS and the caring profession – before he was made redundant. His life took a downward spiral after that – his parents died, then his rent increased and his energy bills doubled, leaving him with no choice but to rely on support to get by.
At the same time, energy bills are double what they were this time last year, forcing those on the lowest incomes to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table.
Bill feels bitter that in this day and age people like himself have to resort to food banks to eat and keep warm, simply because the money they are expected to live on isn’t enough to scrape by.
He added: “What little money I’ve got I try and spread out ’cause I get paid monthly.
“So usually I’m normally skint within about three days once I’ve paid out on all the bills.”
Gracefilled Okeke, a Senior Project Coordinator at Feedo Needo said more than “70 percent” of regulars coming to its food banks are pensioners and older people.
She said: “A good number, over 70 percent” of people coming to them every day are older people especially on Fridays when they give out food parcels.
Sabine Goodwin, director of the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), which represents more than 1,000 food banks, said people who have never used a food bank before, are now turning to them for help.
She told the Daily Express: “More people who are working, more families, more pensioners, more single people and more disabled people are unable to afford food and other essentials.”
To find out how to get involved or volunteer for Feedo Needo, people can visit the website feedoneedo.org.uk – all donations are greatly appreciated.
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