Charities in Cork are beginning to struggle to provide enough food for those in need.

Charities struggling to meet food needs

A social enterprise that redistributes surplus food to charities around Ireland is struggling to meet demand as the cost of living crisis worsens.

FoodCloud, which has hubs in Cork, Dublin and Galway, collects surplus food from businesses and shares it out amongst its network of charity and community groups.

The organisation said it is now entering an extremely challenging few months and it expects demand to continue to grow.

With food businesses themselves now under increased pressure, made worse by an unpredictable market, surplus food supplies are being directly affected.

Cork FoodCloud Community Development Manager, Eimear Delahunty, said the organisation is aware of a clear increase in demand within most types of community organisations such homeless services, food banks, elderly services, and youth services.

Ms Delahunty said: “There is not an infinite supply of surplus food, and our food industry and markets are also under pressure, which itself affects supplies of food through organisations like our own.”

FoodCloud provides surplus food to a wide range of charities and community groups in Cork, such as FEED Cork, Saint Vincent de Paul, Cork Simon Community, and Mahon Family Resource Centre.

Ms Delahunty said is it very difficult to predict the level of demand for food services in Cork in the coming weeks and months, but that the demand will certainly increase.

“We know from our friends in FEED Cork and other Cork county food banks that there is a growing need on the ground and that meeting that need is becoming a challenge,” explained Ms Delahunty.

She continued: “This is not only because of limited food supplies for food banks specifically, it is increasingly challenging for all charities to deliver their food services as food costs rise, and even to collect donated food as fuel costs rise.”

FoodCloud is urging all its food industry partners and partners in business and government, to step up to support communities in any way they can.

Meanwhile, the UCC Student Union (UCC SU) has confirmed it has reopened its food bank due to the increasing numbers of students unable to cope financially.

A statement from the UCC SU read: “We are disheartened to say that we have had to reopen the UCC SU food bank.

“Students are struggling financially due to the increased cost of living, the housing crisis, and the cost of higher education, among other things. This is a problem not only at UCC but all over the country.

“If you are experiencing food insecurity, please do not hesitate to contact the Welfare Officer at 086-1842697, or welfare@uccsu.ie.

“We are no longer accepting donations but if you would like to help, please donate to Cork Penny Dinners.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far, with a special thank you to Cork Penny Dinners and Aldi.”