Fiona Cole, from Trussell Trust in Northern Ireland said it was “heartbreaking” to see food banks in this situation, adding the stress on food bank managers and volunteers is increasing on a daily basis.
According to the Trussell Trust, 67,851 parcels were distributed in Northern Ireland, 26,459 of those given to children in 2025.
The policy and public affairs manager said in the last four to six weeks food banks have faced a crisis in terms of stock levels.
“Our biggest fear is that our food banks are prematurely forced to drastically reduce their support, or worse, close their doors because the income they receive falls short and they can no longer afford their household essentials,” Cole said.
She said that fewer donations could be a result of people struggling with cost of living and having to cut their own budgets.
“Our lifelong contributors, they would give us five pounds of food or £10 of food every time they go to shop in a supermarket,” Cole said.
“That £10 of food is just simply not the same amount as what you would have got even six months ago.”
She said three food banks had contacted them directly about concerns with stock and finance, and six in total had to put out emergency appeals for donations on social media.
She added food banks have also had to close distribution centres or reduce their hours.
Cole said there needs to be sustainable funding for food banks to operate as well as support from government and the Northern Assembly.
While food banks are under pressure a Trussell Trust report found that they had been distributing fewer parcels in 2025 than the peak seen in 2023.
“Wider data suggests there has been a corresponding fall in need for food banks, not just use, external“.
