Northern Ireland

West Belfast food bank appeals for help as donations drop amid coronavirus panic buying

A west Belfast food bank has appealed for help amid demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Tony Meehan, who started the West Belfast Foodbank in 2015, said panic buying at supermarkets had led to fewer donations.

Demand, meanwhile, is at an all-time high.

Mr Meehan, who is currently self-isolating after being informed last week that he had been exposed to someone with coronavirus, said one of the problems is people are hoarding food and not making donations.

"Food banks are running out of food. We could run out of food in two weeks," he said.

"Yesterday, we helped 39 families in one day. On Tuesday, there were 12 families. Plus there is the normal people who haven't got their universal credit sorted out.

"What I have been saying to people is that there is food in the shops, particularly the local shops.

"If people would slow down and not panic buy, there's enough food for everyone.

"We have had a few people who have lost their jobs who work in the hospitality industry. We have people who work in shops that are closing. The ramifications of this crisis are crazy".

Mr Meehan said a lack of donations would have dire consequences.

"There's potential if we don't get donations in, we can't give food out to those in crisis and we will have to make the decision to close our doors and where is that going to leave people, particularly the most vulnerable?

"I don't want to paint a totally bleak picture. This crisis has brought out the worst in people... but it has also brought out the best in people.

"I have been contacted by people wanting to volunteer, local businesses saying they want to donate".

He added: "Keep donating. We are a necessary service for the single mother who will not have school meals for her kids. We are an essential service for the pensioner who is isolated, for the people who are in quarantine.

"We are there to help where we can."