'We will be there for them': Cork food bank sees surge in numbers using service

Feed Cork directors Hamp Sirmans and Sharon Mullins with some 'After School Fuel' dinners for children which are available at Feed Cork. Picture: Howard Crowdy

The effects of the covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the cost-of-living crisis have seen an increase in families using the Feed Cork food bank service.

Every week, the volunteers at Feed Cork distribute over seven tonnes of food to more than 600 people in Cork City from their base located at Cork Church, Lower Oliver Plunkett Street.

Director of Feed Cork Hamp Sirmans said more than 500,000 meals, and 9,000 food parcels, accounting for 400 tonnes of food, were provided by Feed Cork over the 52 weeks of 2023.

He expects the number to increase this year as newly arriving Ukrainian refugees who are residing in State-provided dwellings will see their payment cut to €38.80.

“Our numbers have grown over the past few years from 1,200 clients annually to 4,300 annually and 3,200 of those were families.

Our numbers are only going to increase again because some folks are not able to enter the workforce yet. Many either can’t speak English or have poor English.

“We will be there for them. We don’t discriminate. We don’t care where people are from; if they have a serious need, we will help them,” Mr Sirmans said.

Feed Cork aims to provide dairy, meat, and fresh vegetables within the food boxes they provide.

Volunteer Liam Fitzgerald and director Sharon Mullins packing one of the many hampers distributed every day at Feed Cork. Picture: Howard Crowdy

Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Fianna Fáil councillor Séamus McGrath thanked the volunteers for their efforts during a visit to Feed Cork.

Mr McGrath acknowledged the challenges many are facing and praised the important role that organisations like Feed Cork play in the current economic climate.

He highlighted the positive social impact the volunteer sector plays in reaching those who have, for various reasons, been left vulnerable to food poverty.

The Feed Cork food bank was established in 2017 after a discussion between Mr Sirmans and Pastor Nick Cassidy.

Mr Sirmans, a pastor from Florida, set up a food bank in South Carolina that helped 200 families every week.

He also helped to establish other food banks in the area.

Pastor Cassidy wanted to start a "community project" and Mr Sirmans spoke about his experience with food banks in the US.

“We started with five baskets and since then we’ve had over 60,000 food parcels in seven years.

“We didn’t expect the need for us to be here for so long,” he added.

In 2018, Feed Cork established the ‘After School Fuel’ initiative, which provides meals for children in Deis schools on Fridays to cover food worries over the weekend.

Emma Byrd is a volunteer at Feed Cork and often deals with school liaison officers.

“They [school liaison officers] come in once a week to collect baskets for families that they know need help but a lot of the families won’t come in, so they drop the boxes to their door.

“It is extremely rewarding just to see people come in, enjoy the atmosphere, have a coffee, and leave knowing that their bellies are full and when they go home and their cupboards are full,” she added.

Donations to Feed Cork can be made here.