'I had nothing but €2 to my name" - how a foodbank is helping families

Louise Walsh

A mother-of-four who had €2 to her name when she first asked a foodbank for help is now volunteering at the service, which has seen the number of working-class families needing aid soar.

Sinead McEvoy moved into rented accommodation on Christmas week nine years ago with a bag of food from the foodbank at the Trim Resource Centre in Co. Meath and nothing else to feed her children.

Now, back on her feet, she and her children regularly volunteer at the service where Sinead is known for her resourcefulness in turning donations into an assortment of recipes.

"I had nothing but €2 to my name. It was all overwhelming. But the hardest part was asking for help," she said.

"I felt embarrassed. I thought that I had failed my children because I had let this happen, but the Foodbank was amazing.

"It was Christmas. I was trying to make everything normal for the kids, the youngest of whom was just five years old. I borrowed money from a friend to buy them a hamster for Christmas."

Eventually Sinead got back on her feet and found a job but now volunteers at the service that gave her a helping hand when she needed it most.

She is even called after the TV character MacGyver who was known to make 'things out of nothing,'

"I had to be resourceful. When Danone kindly gave the FoodBank 1400 yoghurts, we made doughnuts and cheesecakes and anything else I could think of. We also got a tonne of beetroot and this became soup, salads, hummus, even crisps".

Food Bank manager Elaine Casey who is now helping 107 families in the South Meath area said 'people are struggling.'

"It doesn't matter what your background is or what your financial situation is, life can change so quickly due to unexpected bills or job losses.," she said.

"Coming into Christmas is a hard time for many working-class people who have to choose between putting fuel in the car to go for food and putting money into the electricity box or choosing to get their medication or food, and unfortunately, this year's budget didn't help people in food poverty."

Elaine stressed that the food bank service was confidential and dignified, and separate time slots were given for people with one entry and one exit so no-one had to bump into anyone they might know.

"There is no shame in asking for help and no stigma to this service. Everyone deserves kindness and a helping hand when they need it most.

"People are doing exactly what is being asked of them - they work and pay the bills - but they can't make ends meet

"There are many people who go for days without eating so they can give their children food, and I met with one working mother, who after paying all the bills, had €5 left for the weeks, and there are many like her.

"Please don't worry about putting food on the table this Christmas, ring the doorbell here and come to me without any judgement."

The Foodbank at the Trim Resource Centre can be reached at 046 9438850, and a Christmas collection will be help this weekend at Navan Town Centre