Fermanagh rallies around The Impartial Reporter's foodbank appeal

The people of the Irvinestown community and all the communities across Fermanagh who use the foodbank service are grateful for the support of the food bank and those who donate to it. Currently, this newspaper is running a Foodbank appeal which has brought in a large volume of donations in the lead-up to Christmas.

An event will be held tonight hosted by the Anti-Poverty Network, The Trussell Trust and this newspaper on the topic of poverty in Fermanagh.

He estimates that around 60 per cent of the foodbank parcels that his organisation supplies are for families. He said: “It is a mix, I think it more families, I think it is 60 to 65 per cent families.”

In 25 minutes, enough food for 12 people is given out just in Irvinestown, including a bag for a family of five.

Attracta Vaughan, Elaine Godfred and Julie Kenwell, Osborne & Co, supporting the Imapartial Reporter, Foodbank Appeal.

As the ongoing cost of living crisis grips the community, Mr. Shades says there have been new service users coming to the food bank as well as returning users. He said: “In the last couple of months, and weeks, we have had first-time service users. We had someone come to Enniskillen and it has been the first time they have had to come to us in four years.

His son, Noah adds: “On Tuesday in Newtownbutler, we had two new people.”

One lady entered the room, she was cheery, Mr. Shades greeted her by name, and she followed his son, Noah outside to collect her parcel from the van.

Mr Shades explained: “When we come here, Newtownbutler, or Belleek rather than doing double the journey [from storage to van] we leave the parcels in the van and then they are ready. Most of the people who have been here today are regular.”

“There is a great sense of community here, everybody knows everybody so I feel like I know everybody.

“One of them gave us Christmas cards, one for ‘to John and everyone’ and the other one for the volunteers – it’s because Noah and I are usually here and another one for our volunteers in Enniskillen.”

Jacqui Dilworth, Garry Jennings and Naomi Clarke.

Mr. Shades is visibly moved when he speaks about the generosity he has seen from service users, speaking gently he said: “Last year, two people came from Derrygonnelly and the two of them gave us a Christmas card and each card had a tenner in it, and I said ‘ you can’t afford this’ and they said: ‘you have helped us so many times and we had an extra tenner and wanted to show our appreciation’, we were just chocked [with tears].”

“A tenner is a lot, these people have nothing and out of the nothing they have, they gave us that.”

Mr Shades says that whilst the Irvinestown food bank helps support some of those in north Fermanagh, many still travel to Enniskillen.

He said: “This morning someone from Ederney came to Enniskillen but there are people who will come from Belleek to here because they don’t want to be seen.

Orange Order foodbank bags - David Clarke Lisnarick District Master, Mervyn Byers County Grand Master of Co Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge, Norman Donaldson Deputy Grand Master of Co Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge , Alan Elliott, Secretary.

Another service user enters, greeted by name, she says ‘hello’ to everyone in the room. She isn’t here for a parcel, instead, she is taking a few necessities which are on the table.

Mr Shades gently instructs her: “Take what you need, do you need cereal? Take teabags, take whatever you need, one of everything that’s what it’s there for.

A moment passes and the lady fills her bag, Mr Shades adds, looking her in the eye: “Make sure you take enough.”

As it comes closer to Christmas, many users are already ordering their Christmas hampers, with over 100 already have been ordered by service users.

Detailing the consistent number of service users for the food bank, Mr Shades said: “The average is still about 127 people a week across the board, that is up but the need for hampers will probably reduce as we are just doing more consistent support.”

Gwen McCutcheon and Peggy Carty.

Gwen McCutcheon from the Arc Healthy Living Centre is one of the first points of contact for people who enter the centre, she refers to herself as a middleman, and one of her colleagues corrects her and says: “She is in the middle of it”.

She says of the food bank: “It fits under the whole ARC umbrella of helping people to help themselves, it is a big part of that and the tool kit.

“It is sadly a staple; it is necessary at the moment.”

STANDING UP TO POVERTY IN FERMANAGH – Tonight!

Join us at South West College, Enniskillen, from 6.30pm as we discuss poverty in Fermanagh.

Hear from community leaders, campaigners, Bernadette McAliskey, Joe Brolly and others.