A couple on benefits with an 11-month-old child have spoken about how “stressful” it is living day to day with very little money.
Marc Wells, 38, and Samantha Parker, 30, visit the food bank at St Richard’s Crypt in Seacroft every Tuesday just so they have enough food for their baby Adrian. Marc has spoken about how he’s been “kept awake at night” worrying about bailiffs coming to his house to take their items while struggles to pay the bills.
Marc receives disability allowance as he struggles to walk ever since a life changing accident when he was only five years old. He was run over by a car when he ran across Easterly Road, following a friend after walking home from school with his sister.
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Marc said: “I died five times on that day. I’m lucky to be here. I find it hard to walk but I’m a very stubborn man.”
The 38-year-old used to work as security guard but ultimately it was too difficult for his legs.
The cost of living crisis has caused more psychological issues for Marc who stays awake at night, fretting about paying the bills and keeping his family afloat.
Marc said: “Buying food and paying the bills was a struggle. I’ve got this food bank and another one in Pudsey, I used to volunteer for them.
“It is stressful. You don’t know what’s going to happen from day to day. There could be an emergency or something like that. I’ve not slept as much, it has been keeping me up at night. You’ve just got to get through it.
The type of thoughts riddling Marc’s mind are: “What’s going to happen? Are the bailiffs going to come around? Things like that. With the bills, I haven’t paid the bills sometimes.
“I do worry about Adrian as well. I worry about his mother, I’m a big worrier.”
Samantha has admitted that she has also been getting worried but feels she should keep her fears to herself during this crisis. She said: “I do get worried about it sometimes but I don’t bother people with it as I know everyone’s struggling and everyone has got their own problems.”
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