Almost 150 use food bank since opening

Gwen Smyth (Carrickfergus food bank), MLA Sammy Wilson, Suzanne Downey (Trussell Trust), Alex Moore (Carrickfergus food bank) and Anne Ritchie (Tesco Community Champion) at the opening of the Carrickfergus food bank. INCT 50-130-GR

UK charity Trussell Trust opened their fourth distribution centre in Northern Ireland in Carrickfergus just eight months ago.

Located just off the Woodburn Road, the warehouse is run chiefly by a team of volunteers from Jordan Victory Church, where it is based, and Carrickfergus Vineyard Church.

Trussell Trust operates a system whereby families or individuals in crisis can receive a voucher for an emergency supply of food from frontline care professionals, such as doctors and social workers.

Although up and running since April, the food bank was officially opened by East Antrim MLA Sammy Wilson on Friday.

The Woodburn centre relies on donations of non-perishable items from members of the public, including long life milk, tea, coffee, cereals and tinned goods.

The items are then sorted by volunteers into packs containing a three day emergency supply of food.

Since opening its doors, the local centre has provided the emergency parcels to almost 150 people.

Gwen Smyth from the Carrick food bank team said: “Since opening early this year we have fed 149 people in total; 87 adults and 62 children.

“We have issued 61 vouchers on average to nearly eight families per month.

“Things were very slow the first few months as we were making people and front line agencies aware that we were in the area.

“We have had a sudden surge this month due to advertising and more agencies coming on board with us such as CAP [Christians Against Poverty], Citizens Advice, Homestart, SureStart, Women’s Aid and so on .”

There has also been an overall rise in the number of people using the centre since April, Gwen said, “due to the cold winter with people having to pay heating bills and of course Christmas.

“Low income seems to be the biggest factor in people needing the food bank as well as benefit changes.”

The warehouse will also have 50 food hampers going out at Christmas to help those who are in long term financial difficulties.

Meanwhile, the amount of food in stock at the Carrick distribution centre has doubled to six tonnes compared to the three tonnes held back in April.

“[This is] thanks to Tesco for allowing us three days of food collection at the end of November,” Gwen added.