A young woman who became the legal guardian of her little brother and sister as a teenager after losing their mum is supporting a charity in the fight against food poverty.

The death of 47-year-old Jo Devereux, last June, left her eldest Erin, now 20, looking after Liam, 14 and Lily, 13.

Jo was given between six and 12 months to live in 2019 when the breast cancer she had first beaten in 2012 returned and spread to her lung, liver and spine.

She managed to live another two years but before she died, Jo, who was worried how her children would eat, contacted Feeding Families to make sure they did not go hungry.

The Northern Echo: Jo Devereux, with Erin, right, Lily and LiamJo Devereux, with Erin, right, Lily and Liam (Image: North News)

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But now, with the cost-of-living crisis expected to worsen over winter, the charity’s boss has warned the support it can offer in the current economic climate is unsustainable.

Erin, who lives in Kenton, Newcastle, said: “They have really helped me throughout the last year deal with the loss of my mam.

“I don’t know what I would have done without them. They went above and beyond. I am so thankful to them."

Feeding Families provides food parcels to people in need and over Christmas provides a full dinner with all the trimmings.

Erin, now acting as an ambassador for the charity, said: “We got a hamper with a full dinner so I did not have to pay for anything over Christmas. They even got us a few Christmas presents.

“It was really nice of them. They given me and the kids so much. I really appreciate everything they have done. I hope they can get all of the support they need and I will help any way I can.

“With what is going on at the minute people are having to decide between heating their house and feeding their kids. People should not be having to make decision like this." 

As Britain’s cost-of-living crisis hikes up average annual grocery bills by £454, growing numbers of people are being pushed into food poverty and turning to food banks and charitable aid amid the worst squeeze on household budgets for decades.

For some, spiralling energy costs will mean they simply cannot afford to cook food.

Feeding Families predicts that by April it will be supplying 2,000 emergency food boxes each month to homes across the North East – double the average monthly amount packed last year.

However, with rising costs and soaring inflation, Feeding Families has also seen a notable downturn in food donations.

The charity is calling on North East businesses to pledge their support to ensure those in dire need do not go hungry.

The Northern Echo: Juliet SandersJuliet Sanders (Image: Bigger Picture Agency)

Chief executive Juliet Sanders said: “Never more so than now have we felt the critical importance of our existence as a charity to support families in desperate need and put food on their tables.

“To consider that some families not only can’t afford to buy enough food, but also can’t afford to cook it, is absolutely heart-breaking.

“Demand is at an all-time high and continuing to rise. Everyone is feeling the squeeze and, as a result, food donations are down. We are having to meet requirements by bulk purchasing items from the supermarkets, where there’s a noticeable increase in food prices.

“Last year, 1,000 Christmas cakes would cost us £930… this year, with a 47p price hike, they’ll cost £1,400. We are facing hurdles at every juncture. “These conditions are unsustainable and we face uncertainty over meeting people’s needs at Christmas, so we are calling on businesses to step forward and help, to ensure we can cope with the record demand for food.”

The charity, which has packaging centres in Fishburn and Gateshead, expects to create more than 10,000 Christmas food hampers for families in need this December.

Juliet said the figure is a conservative estimate and is campaigning for local companies to pledge their support.

She said: "We’re predicting record numbers of people needing our support and, having witnessed first-hand just how crucial these hampers are, we simply can’t let them down. £30 pays for a Christmas hamper for one family, so pledging £600 for example would transform the lives of 20 local families over the festive period.

“Our Christmas hampers are a lifeline to their recipients and we are appealing to businesses to pledge support or raise funds for Feeding Families to help tackle the very real and growing existence of food poverty on our doorstep.”

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