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Making life a little bit easier
“I used to feel a lot of shame about shopping at Foodbank, it’s not something I ever imaged for my wife and myself, but life had other plans.”
Mark and his wife are no strangers to hard work, Mark worked as a commercial ceiling fixer and his wife Nicole had worked tirelessly in Aged Care for many years. They were self-sufficient and had never had to entertain the thought of struggling and reaching out for help. That all changed on one awful day which altered the direction of their lives forever.
Mark’s wife was involved in an accident which left her disabled for life. This led to the couple battling with the NDIS for assistance for more than three years – despite having numerous letters from doctors, expensive specialists and even Centrelink. Their experience has left them feeling like they are simply being discouraged from accessing help they rightly deserved – and desperately need – by being asked to fill out form after form and asked to submit more documentation about Nicole’s condition with no end in sight.
Unable to get the assistance they needed, and with each essential specialist’s appointment costing upwards of $400, the couple went through all of their savings, followed by their Super and are now living in state housing. Mark had to give up his job to become his wife’s full-time carer, placing further strain on their finances. The benefit he receives now is equal to what two days’ work would have been for him.
Not only did Mark and Nicole have to adjust to the very abrupt and lifechanging situation hey found themselves in through absolutely no fault of their own, they had to find a way to survive whilst also getting Nicole the care and treatment she required.
Finding Foodbank was game changing for Mark and Nicole. Mark says that being able to shop at discounted prices, great range of well-priced meat, along with the free fruit and vegetables, has been phenomenal. While they have both had to adapt how they eat and the types of food they cook, thanks to Foodbank they aren’t missing out on nutritious and healthy meals.
I have spoken to other customers at the Peel branch and so many have told me that before finding Foodbank, they had to skip meals so that they could feed their kids. It’s a very harsh reality for some. There are so many people who thanks to Foodbank now send their kids to school with a full tummy in the morning. Thats a beautiful thing.”
While Mark still occasionally feels ashamed for having to ask for help, it’s become easier for him because he finds that the staff and volunteers at the branch are supportive and there’s no judgement at all.
Nobody wants a handout. They want to stand on their own two feet. But sometimes you just need to swallow your pride and ask for help, it’s worth it for your family. Even cats and dogs are taken care of at Foodbank, with pet supplies often on offer. Foodbank makes life just that little bit easier.”
If you or anyone you know is experiencing food insecurity, don’t struggle in silence and reach out today on 1800 979 777.