James McMenamin of Foyle Foodbank which has seen a huge rise in demand from struggling families
Foyle Foodbank has reported a 310% increase in demand for food in the five years since it first launched.
The service supplied food to a total of 15,580 people during 2021.
In 2016, the year the service first launched, it supplied a total of 3,800 people.
Manager of Foyle Foodbank, James McMenamin, said the number of people in need of the foodbank have surged over the past year — with 9,080 adults and 6,173 children requiring help.
The cross-community organisation opened in 2016 to help end hunger and poverty in the area. Last year alone the foodbank handed out 98 tonnes of food to those on the poverty line. The top three reasons for food poverty given by foodbank users were low income, benefit changes and benefit delays.
Said Mr McMenamin said: “We had over 15,000 people through the food bank last year, which is more than we had for the first three years combined.
“A lot of people who would have never needed the foodbank before do now because of the cost of living rise, cost of heating, electricity and even the cost of fuel to get to and from work.
“Costs have gone up and wages haven’t gone up. People in general now are finding it hard to match their heating and electricity bills whether they’re working or on benefits. Obviously people on benefits are finding it that bit harder.
Foyle Foodbank in Derry sees huge demand on its services
He said there is definitely a choice between people heating their homes or eating as a result of increased energy costs.
“I had one lady in with me today,” he explained, “who is putting £20 into her gas every few days which means that her budget for food is just completely blown so she needs help with food.”
The generosity of Derry people is well known, as proven by its place at the top of a recent GoFundMe poll.
Mr McMenamin said the foodbank is “most certainly” well looked after by local businesses and the wider community.
“People come and help us out with staff as well as donations of food and money so we can help all these people in need.”
He added: “The bottom line is, people need enough money to live on. People need supported whether working or on benefits.
“They need to be able to support their families.
“Look at a lot of jobs now, they’re on minimum wage.
“The price of food has gone up but the minimum wage hasn’t, or if it has, very slightly and nothing compared to the cost of living.”
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