Food bank users who rely on the 'lifeline' service have opened up about their difficult living circumstances where they are forced to live without heating and rely on supermarket discounts.
Visitors at Bridging the Gap food bank spoke of being unable to work due to health reasons, having their benefits cut as punishment for missing a job centre session, or not being deemed eligible for health or disability payments.
The service, in Willenhall, West Midlands, offers donated items for free to those who can prove they are genuinely in need.
Amid rising inflation now at a 30-year-high and a monstrous hike to energy bills, they told of their constant worry and struggle to make ends meet.
Marianne Kiley, 59, who uses the service, told Birmingham Live : "I don't think I'm going to be able to survive to be perfectly honest."
Ms Kiley's life was turned upside down last year when she lost her home in Stourport following a devastating fire.
She suffers with rheumatoid arthritis and her daughter has epilepsy. The family spent 13 nights living on the streets and now live nearby in Willenhall.
The mum said she is currently receiving Universal Credit and is in the process of applying for Personal Independence Payment which can help with extra living costs for those with a long term condition or disability which means they struggle with every day tasks.
"I had a sanction on my benefits. I should have had full payment on the sixth but I've only had half of what I'm entitled to so I'm having to live without gas and electric on the meter," Ms Kiley said.
"It's been a horrendous few months."
Chris Moss, 63, worked as a roofer for 40 years. He had to give up work 18 months ago as he's got degenerative arthritis in both his knees. He currently lives on £30 a week after his rent and council tax has been paid.
"I'm constantly worrying. I'm worried sick about my next gas bill," he admits.
The granddad said he has stopped putting on the heating to keep energy bills at bay.
"I don't have it on. The fire will go on in the morning on two bars but that's it," he said.
"I lie on the sofa with a quilt on. No part of the house is heated, the bedroom is freezing. That's the way I've got to do it, I can't have it on. It's the way of life."
Mr Moss also tried to get extra help through PIP but so far he has been judged as not meeting the criteria.
"I applied for PIP but was refused. You have to have so many points. It's incredibly difficult," he added.
"I have become a professional in reduced prices at Morrisons. I wait till 4.30pm and get the meat reduced by 50 per cent. It's the only way I can eat those sorts of things.
"It's demeaning. I used to be on £550 a week, now I'm on £30. My savings have gone. I worked for 40 years but I couldn't save with three kids and a mortgage.
"I'm thankful I've got this much money so I can keep a roof over my head."
Steve Preen, 48, is also struggling. He too has had his benefits sanctioned after missing a job centre appointment, which he says was due to a death in the family.
"I've been coming here quite frequently," he said.
"At the moment I'm looking after somebody in my flat. I budget how much I've got to go round. It is a struggle."
When asked about rising energy bills, he said: "I keep it on as much as possible but I am concerned about bills going up."
Bridging the Gap has been operating for around a decade squeezed into a row of shops in Willenhall.
Hardy volunteers run the site, packing in tins, boxes, bottles and loaves of bread into every available nook and cranny.
The nearby Morrisons supermarket donates much of the food through its community scheme, while other items come from local churches and members of the public.
Kathy Tonry, who heads the service, said she worries about what will happen to regular food bank users when the cost of living crisis intensifies over the coming months.
"The fuel crisis is only just starting to hit so I suspect in the coming months we're going to see another increase," she said.
"It can be the people you expect, the people on benefits, but we have had professional people as well. This could be a nurse, or someone like that, who is struggling. It can be anybody that needs us."
The food bank saw a spike in visitors following the removal of the temporary £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit which was introduced to help the worst-off get through the pandemic.
Critics labelled the removal cruel while defenders of the government said the move was never intended to be permanent.
Father Mike Batchelor, who works alongside Ms Tonry, says: "A lot of people came to depend on the £20 Universal Credit. When that was taken away it became a lot busier."
Ms Tonry said Universal Credit "is not working" at present.
She added: "People who have good jobs are worrying. I'm a little bit worried about my utility bills going up and I've got quite a well-paid job.
"If I'm struggling, those who are on a lower income and are on benefits are really going to struggle.
"What are they going to do? They're going to choose between heating or eating and nobody should be in that situation.
"Those on benefits and those on lower incomes, they're really going to struggle and this is the time for clients that I hope will access our services if they need it.
"In an ideal world people wouldn't need food banks, they wouldn't have to access them to get the basics in life but until the benefits system improves, until people get a decent wage that's not going to happen."
The food bank has proved invaluable from those who have come to rely on it during hard times.
As well as providing meals, they also provide financial advice and refer those struggling to pay their bills to support services.
Ms Kiley said: "We haven't been getting support from the right people. Somebody mentioned Bridging the Gap and they have been absolutely amazing. They helped us with clothing, food, gas and electric."
Mr Moss said: "It's an absolute lifeline. This is brilliant," he says, pointing to a box of fresh fruit and veg. "Fruit is a luxury."
Mr Preen echoed: "It's been brilliant. I can't fault them."
But they also expressed the view that it should not be down to food banks to be there for them in their hour of need.
Ms Kiley says: "I think the Government needs to do something. I've been given half my benefits. I asked for help and they said no."
Mr Moss added: "There should be more help for people like me."
