THE Feed Clare Foodbank has resumed operations at the Kincora Building in the Town Centre on Friday mornings.
Karen Cassidy is involved in running it, and she said there had been huge demand for its support in the run up to Christmas.
“We didn’t open on Christmas week, that would have been the 23rd. The week before we had a double week, rather than opening a few days before Christmas, and I think we had our highest numbers ever on that day. We were so busy, my goodness, we really were busy.”
When she spoke to the Champion last Friday, she said the first Foodbank of 2023 hadn’t been overly hectic.
“Today wasn’t too bad. I think people probably weren’t too sure if we were open or not. It’s always like that in January, it takes people a week or two to realise it’s back open again, even though we always advertise that it’s open.”
Extremely high inflation has made things very difficult for many people, she feels.
“The cost of everything is rising and it’s hard on people, it really is. People are struggling.
“They go into the supermarket and everything has gone up. It’s every single item, not just one or two things. I think it’s not that people can’t feed their families at all, they just need a hand, a little bit of help to get them through to the next week.”
Those coming to the foodbank can get some of the household staples, she says.
“What we always have every week are the basics, things like cereals, tea, sugar, coffee, pasta rice, all that kind of stuff.
“They can get that every week with potatoes and some bread maybe. That makes a difference.”
She says that all are welcome to access the foodbank.
“Anybody is welcome. People often ask me do you not think there are some people taking advantage? But it’s not easy to walk into a foodbank, you did it because you need it. Anyone is welcome to walk in the door and get some help.”
At one time the Foodbank had to go fortnightly, but for the foreseeable future, it will be open every Friday morning at 11.30am.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.