Soaring demand for food banks

The country’s oldest food bank expects to break its own record this year in terms of the amount of food it dispenses, while doubling the number of community food initiatives due to unprecedented demand.

Crosscare opened six community food initiatives in January of last year across the greater Dublin area, from Darndale to Dundrum and Blanchardstown to Dún Laoghaire.

Michael McDonagh, food services senior manager at Crosscare, said each of the community food banks was now supporting as many as 60 families a day, providing enough food for a week.