THE Harkins family are proof of the old fear that we are all just a few pay packets away from financial ruin.
The family of four went from a comfortable middle class life to dependency on foodbanks through a few set backs which could befall any of us.
They lived a happy, middle class life in London before falling on hard times in 2011. While heavily pregnant with her second child Suzanne, a housing association advocacy officer was made redundant. Her husband, David, a clerical nurse, was then forced to leave work following a breakdown.
The family's home was repossessed, and they moved back up to Scotland declaring themselves homeless to a charity. After being housed in Paisley, David, attended a back-to-work program. Due to a bureaucratic error scheduling him for two interviews at the same time, the family's benefits were halved, leaving them with just £25 a week to survive on. Suzanne and her husband would go for four or five days without a meal, just so their young children could eat. The couple lost eight stone in weight between them.
The terrible financial strain Suzanne found herself under forced her to stop breastfeeding as a result of being undernourished. This was absolutely devastating for Suzanne as it made her feel like she was letting her own son down.
Suzanne said: "The frustration I felt before meeting the Trussell Trust was that people didn't care that I couldn't feed my children. People didn't care that I was ill, and my husband was ill."
In 2013 her situation was absolutely desperate and she decided to visit the Trussell Trust food bank - which she had referred people to in the past when she worked as a housing officer. The food bank helped her and gave her three days of emergency food. The food was much needed, but as well as the practical help she received, Suzanne says that the Trussell Trust offered her emotional support and genuine empathy.
Suzanne said: "When I went to the Trussell Trust the people there actually wanted to hear what was going on in our lives. This wasn't just support with the food parcels, but the emotional support they gave us as well.
"I can't imagine what we would have done, and how we would have ended up if I hadn't gone to the Trust. I sometimes have nightmares that my children could have been taken into care. In fact, that was one of the reasons I didn't talk to anyone before the Trussell Trust: in case they thought I was a bad parent and couldn't provide for my kids ... I know there are still people in dire need and I don't know what they would do without [the Trust] as there isn't really any other help out there for people."
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