A community food bank initiative in Co Tyrone has been addressing a need for more help from local people as living costs continue to rise.
Energy prices have soared in recent months, while a cut to the £20 Universal Credit uplift has left many people struggling to make ends meet in the lead up to Christmas.
The Coalisland Community Food Bank, which was set up at the start of the pandemic in 2020, is attempting to provide food for those in the area who need it the most.
Volunteer at the centre and independent councillor for the area, Dan Kerr, said the rising cost of living has had a ‘drastic effect’ on local residents.
“The levels have been consistent throughout the year and we have seen a consistent need for the food bank,” Dan told MyTyrone.
“There is still a lot of people reliant on it in the local area, due to finding themselves in hardship.
“Some of them have come from a comfortable position but are now struggling due to the rising living costs of electricity and gas, and the stagnation of wages.
“Those rising prices are having a drastic effect on people, as there has been a massive jump in energy prices but we don’t see that jump in people’s wages.
“It seems to be that people who may have been comfortable a few months back are now just trying to keep their heads above water.
“For a lot of people now their pay bracket just isn’t able to get themselves a comfortable lifestyle now.
“The food bank is just a wee bit of pressure off their shoulders.”
Dan praised the local team of eight volunteers and the Coalisland community for stepping up for their neighbours during a time of hardship for many.
He added: “The Coalisland community and those from surrounding areas have been very generous and supported us, from individual sponsors to local businesses.
“They have been very supportive of the food bank since we established it just around the start of the pandemic.
“We started it just a month after the start of Covid, and the public have been hugely helpful since then and we can’t thank them enough.
“If it wasn’t for their continuous support, the food bank wouldn’t be in existence.”
