Jason, a father of two teenagers, needed to stop working when he was required to become a full time carer for his seriously ill wife.

He also cares for his teenage son who is autistic and is very dependent on him.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Jason mostly managed to make ends meet through careful budgeting and planning. The family might not have had much, but at least they had a roof over their heads and food on the table.

Then the cost-of-living crisis changed everything, as Jason explains.

“Before this crisis, we were pretty much living hand to mouth, from one week to the next.

“So, when the cost of everything started going up, we had no buffer. I just had to do whatever I could to make sure my kids had something to eat. As a parent, that’s your first priority.”

Asking for help didn’t come easy for Jason. He’d been brought up to be independent, and his first instinct was always to find a solution for himself. But the escalating cost-of-living crisis left him with no choice.

On the brink of hunger, Jason reached out to Vinnies for support. The Vinnies team were able to assist Jason and his family with supermarket vouchers and food hampers. We also assisted with the family’s utility bills, medication expenses and provided clothing.

Jason is extremely grateful to Vinnies and feels it is a place he can reach out to without feeling any judgement. He says the team always make him feel welcome, comfortable and not embarrassed to ask for assistance.

During this ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many others like Jason are experiencing hardship including food insecurity – please donate today.