At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly a fifth of the population, including over 100,000 children, lived below the poverty line.
There’s no denying the recent spike in food and fuel prices has had a detrimental effect on those already struggling, and the fact that 1-in-14 households have an inability to access enough varied food for a healthy lifestyle, the importance of foodbanks to aid the most deprived families and individuals has never been greater.
Recent research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has identified that households will typically need to spend between 24% and 46% of their income on a food basket that only contains the minimum healthy essential foodstuffs.
In an attempt to put an end to the turmoil, food banks across Northern Ireland are playing pivotal roles in attempting to alleviate the food crisis, offering vital items to those who need them most.
Here are 25 food banks in operation across the country:
Recent research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has identified that households will typically need to spend between 24% and 46% of their income on a food basket that only contains the minimum healthy essential foodstuffs.
5. South Belfast Food Bank
Based in Sandy Row, Belfast and opened in 2014, the South Belfast Food Bank, with its 80 volunteers, has since served 342,405 meals (303 tonnes of food) to people in crisis. Once referred, you can select your own food, toiletries, household and baby items from their supermarket style centres. Opening hours: Tuesday 10am-4pm For more information go to: southbelfast.foodbank.org.uk or call 07743332489 Photo: Conributed
6. South-West Belfast Food Bank
Based on the Stewartstown Road, Belfast, tThe South-West Belfast Food Bank has served the area from Andersonstown to the Colin neighbourhood and Dunmurry since 2015, where a higher proportion of people than average live below the poverty line. In the last 12 months, 51,053 kg of food have been given directly or through other organisations to 5433 clients. This food has been donated by local people at supermarkets, schools and churches, while volunteers from all backgrounds sort, pack and distribute food parcels to those in urgent need. Opening hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:30-2:30pm For more information go to: southwestbelfast.foodbank.org.uk or call 07938706552 Photo: Contributed
7. Storehouse Belfast
Storehouse Belfast can be found at North Street, Belfast. The Storehouse Food Shop allows individuals to freely select their own food. Vegetarian and halal food parcels can also be offered for those with special dietary requirements and religious beliefs. Opening hours: Monday 10am-12:30pm, Tuesday 10am-12pm, Wednesday 1pm-3:30pm and Thursday 2pm-4pm For more information go to: www.storehousebelfast.com or call 02890236333 Photo: Storehouse Belfast
8. Antrim Food Bank
The Antrim Food Bank is on High Street, Antrim. In 2019-20 alone, 4,549 children, 20 per cent of the children of South Antrim, lived in poverty. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has since viewed an increase in food bank use by 434 per cent. Opening hours: Friday 11am-1pm For more information go to: antrim.foodbank.org.uk or call 02894548555 Photo: Monkey Business Images