'I’m really struggling to buy food for my children and I can’t tell you how horrible as a mother that makes me feel'

The difficulties many Westmeath families face trying to make ends meet has been graphically illustrated by a message sent to a food poverty activist by a local mother.

In the message to Ken Smollen, which he posted on social media with the sender's consent, the distressed mother of three said that she is "not the kind of person who likes to ask for help but I’ve admitted defeat"

"I have three young children and I had to give up my job due to childcare costs. Ever since then it has just been down hill and I’m finding myself struggling more and more as the weeks go on.

“I am currently on social welfare but it's just about covering my ESB and gas bill every week.

“I’m really struggling to buy food for my children and I can’t tell you how horrible as a mother that makes me feel. I’ve never been in a situation like this before. I don’t care about what I have but I can’t do it to my children.

“I’m falling behind on my credit union payments and I haven’t met my full mortgage payment in months.

“I just feel like I’m getting into a hole that I’m never going to be able to get out of and I’m absolutely dreading the rest of the week and it’s a horrible way to live. “

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Mr Smollen, who delivers food packages to over 1,200 households in the midlands every month, including over 350 to families in Westmeath, said that he posts messages like the one from the Westmeath mother on his Facebook page to highlight the problems many local families are facing at the minute.

He says that the number of families entering food poverty is growing every week and that everyday he is contacted by more people who are struggling to feed their families.

“It is getting worse. I am getting more messages from people every day and innocent children are suffering in households across the region.

“It's not their fault. It's all about the children and making sure that children are not going hungry.

“I visited that Westmeath family early this morning around half past six. She messaged me to say that finding the bag of food on her doorstep made her day.”

Mr Smollen, who has teams of volunteer food collectors across the midlands, including one in Mullingar and other parts of Westmeath, said that despite the generosity of local people he is running low on some items due to the huge demand for help from hard up families.

Read the full message

Hi Ken. I hope you don’t mind me messaging you but I am so embarrassed to send this and have hesitated over and over again as I’m not the kind of person who likes to ask for help but I’ve admitted defeat and I need help.

I’m well known in my local town and mostly for giving to other people or helping people where I can but this time it’s me that needs help.

I have three young children and I had to give up my job due to childcare costs. Ever since then it has just been down hill and I’m finding myself struggling more and more as the weeks go on.

I am currently on social welfare but it's just about covering my ESB and gas bill every week.

I’m really struggling to buy food for my children and I can’t tell you how horrible as a mother that makes me feel. I’ve never been in a situation like this before. I don’t care about what I have but I can’t do it to my children.

I’m falling behind on my credit union payments and I haven’t met my full mortgage payment in months.

I just feel like I’m getting into a hole that I’m never going to be able to get out of and I’m absolutely dreading the rest of the week and it’s a horrible way to live.

Sorry Ken, but I just don't know what else I can do or where else to turn to for help.