I am a mother and a businesswoman, and now I work in my local food bank reaching out to my community so that anyone who needs support can get it.

Life hasn’t always been like this. After my business started losing money, there were days when I wasn’t sure if I had enough money to eat dinner. I always did everything I could to make sure my little boy got what he needed but I couldn’t always do the same for myself. That’s when I turned to a food bank for support.

At first, I felt embarrassed that I needed to ask for help, but I soon learned that there wasn’t any shame in needing support; the people from the food bank wouldn’t judge me and that they were only there to help. There shouldn’t be any stigma attached to seeking support from a food bank.

What I learned straight away, which I didn’t expect, was that food bank volunteers really do bring sunshine and colour into your life.

The first time I met them to get an emergency food parcel, I was short with them. I was embarrassed and they’d come to deliver the food right to my door. I wasn’t rude, but I just thanked them and went back inside because I was worried that everyone on my estate would see. The second time they came, they met me with the same amazing smile as they did the first time, so I was a bit more open, but I was still cautious.

You don’t know what it means to ask for help until you have to do it. When you’ve got a little lad you wonder whether everyone will think you’re a bad mother, if they’ll question whether you can look after your child, but the food bank volunteers never once did that. That’s why the third time they came, I tried my very best to greet them with as big a smile as they greeted me with.

The pandemic was tough on everyone. I ran a small business at the time providing sweets and treats for children and adults who had a range of allergies and intolerances. I started the business because my son suffers from lots of different allergies, and I wanted to make sure that he and others like him would still be able to enjoy life. I put my heart and soul into building something I could be proud of. But as the pandemic came, and lockdown one became lockdown two there was just no one getting in touch to place orders. Most of my business came from parties and, of course, they weren’t happening.

It trickled on for a bit, but it got to the point where I was losing money hand over fist; my stock was going off and rotting so I had to throw it away. I had to bite the bullet and claim Universal Credit.

It immediately became apparent that this wasn’t enough for me to get by on. My son is allergic to milk, so I had to buy alternative milks. The way children go through milk, it was costing me an eighth of all my Universal Credit every month just to make sure he had the calcium he needed. Beyond that, he’s got several food allergies, including some really common sweeteners, so once I’d sourced alternatives, it all added up, especially when I had to buy items from local shops as I couldn’t get to supermarkets.

I was volunteering with a local council community scheme when the team leader mentioned food banks and how they provide emergency food parcels. I knew my cupboards were getting emptier, and I knew I didn’t have any more money coming in, so I asked him for a referral. Within four days they’d been around with a food parcel that catered for my son’s allergies. It was a godsend to have that breathing space.

As time passed, and with support from my family, things got easier. Not easy, but easier. I managed to get us back on a level playing field. I managed to leave a relationship that drained my energy and I knew that good things were ahead.

You hear people saying that food banks are for people who can’t budget and that if you can afford a phone and wifi then you shouldn’t need a food bank. But you have to have the internet to claim benefits… so what are you meant to do? Society can be judgmental, but you never know what someone is going through.

I now work at the food bank that supported me. I saw a job advertised and I knew it was an opportunity to do for others what they had done for me. I see people around me who have spent their whole lives in poverty. It’s all they’ve ever experienced and it’s all their parents ever experienced. 

I am proud of where I am now, and I am proud of the journey I had to take to get here. I don’t need to use a food bank anymore, but I am definitely not ashamed of having done so.

Life is too short for so many people to be living in such hardship. If you’re in a position to do something to change that I hope you choose to do so. Whether it’s volunteering, donating or campaigning for a better life for people, do it.

Now, as the church and communities engagement officer at the food bank that once helped me, I get a chance to pass on my own smiles, and I hope they help others as much as the smiles I received helped me.

Donate food

You can donate food directly to your local food bank (which you can find here) or at collection points in supermarkets. Some online supermarkets also allow you to add items to your regular shop to be sent directly to food banks.

It’s worth checking on your local food bank’s website to see which specific items they’re most in need of, but in general, the below items are a great shout. Just make sure the items are in good condition and in date. 

• UHT milk
• Tinned meat (hotdogs, meatballs etc.)
• Tinned fish
• Tinned fruit
• Sponge/rice puddings
• Coffee (small jars)
• Long-life juice
• Pasta sauce
• Tinned veg (potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomatoes)
• Tinned meals (spaghetti, chicken or veg curries, chilli)
• Tinned soup
• Jam and spreads

Donate goods

The Trussell Trust has 11 shops, two of which are online, run by a small team of staff and volunteers. These shops generate funds to help the charity support people facing hardship and campaign to end the need for emergency food. You can donate these items:

• Good quality clothes, shoes, belts, bags, hats and jewellery
• Good quality bric-a-brac
• Books, DVDs, CDs and vinyl records
• Toys, puzzles and games
• Working electrical goods
• Good quality furniture

Please contact the charity before bringing your items by emailing retailenquiries@trusselltrust.org.

Donate money

You can make a financial donation to support the Trussell Trust in helping those in need. Either make a one-off donation or set up a regular payment. 

Images: Chris Lacey Photography; The Trussell Trust