Around 30% of children in Sheffield are now living in poverty, and help groups and hospitals have become increasingly strained for resources.
Jayne Mason, founder of S12 Community Pantry, said: “We have seen a 1000% increase in demand for our emergency food parcels in the last month alone due to the cost of living crisis.”
Miss Mason said: “Working families really feel the pinch, especially during the school holidays, and we expect to see an even bigger rise as the weather turns colder and we hope people will come and keep warm.”
S12 Community Pantry is an organisation that has been running since February to help anyone struggling from the cost of living crisis.
Using donations and volunteers, the organisation collects food from supermarkets to bring free food and drinks to anyone who needs it, as well as selling nutritious meals for low prices.
Carrie Hedderwick, secretary and treasurer of Sheffield People’s Assembly (SPA), said: “Families are really struggling and food is a hideous issue which is so key to other things such as children’s wellbeing and health.
“We spent months writing letters and organising stalls to draw politicians and peoples attention to child food poverty and the shocking levels of it in the face of supermarkets profiteering off it.”
SPA is a branch of the national People’s Assembly set up against the attacks on public funding following the 2010 election.
The local initiative, supported by major trade unions, aims to mobilise communities and spread awareness about the alienating and defenceless effects of austerity by setting up stalls and protests.
17 October is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and aims to promote understanding and dialogue between people living in poverty and the wider society.