Recession stories: Struggling to feed sick children on food parcels

Ella says her life is a 'pot of confusion' not knowing where her family's food will come from or when she will be evicted. Photo / Videograb

For the past two weeks, we have been telling people's stories from around the country about how they are surviving the recession. But today we look at two families who have suffered from the downturn, the Sumners who risk losing their home and Ella, below, who is struggling just to feed her family.

Read the full series here: nzherald.co.nz/go/surviving09

Ella, Otara

Ella has held on to her dignity despite living off food parcels while caring for her children.

The Otara mother said the recession is adding to the burden that she already carries.

"Two or three years ago, it wasn't [like] this but the struggle we have now - but the power, the water - it is always threatened that they will cut it," Ella said.

Her son and daughter, aged 42 and 38 respectively, get out of the house three times a week when they travel to hospital for dialysis.

"I've got pride but I swallowed it. Where would I go?"

Ella, who did not want to give her last name, said her neighbour now comes over to borrow a glass of milk or some sugar. She said sometimes the neighbour's kids don't go to school because they have no lunch.

She said she tries to share her food parcels with her neighbours who are also now in a desperate situation.

Ella said the price of food has gone up and she now finds herself looking in the "rejects bin".

"I can't buy a bag like I used to. Not only is it expensive, the quality is not as good as it used to," Ella said.

Tears came to her eyes as she described opening the door to "an angel" with a food parcel last week.

"I tell you, I just stood there to eat. I was so hungry," Ella said.

But sometimes it is worse than that. "I go to the cupboard and there is nothing.

"Sometimes if it's an orange it is split between the two. Whereas before, it was an orange each, not anymore," Ella said.

She said she once had faith in the new National Government but nothing has changed for people like her in South Auckland. Ella said she hoped those in power experienced her pain one day.

"This is the time that everybody, people like me for example, really need a piece of bread on my table... So I can go to sleep," Ella said.

She said her life is like a "a pot of confusion", not knowing when she will be evicted from her home as she and her husband struggle to make ends meet.

"I am getting more confused and more frustrated. I've been here for over 50 years but it's the first time that I've come across anything like this," Ella said referring to the recession.

She said looking after two disabled children is a 24 hour a day, seven days a week job.

"They don't have a life. I give them the best that I can. Now, that is my major problem. Thinking, what can I give them for food tonight? For breakfast the next morning?"

She said the family almost lost their home through a mortgagee sale but help from the Budgeting Service allowed her to keep the family's heads above water.

"Sometimes I just feel like hopping in the car, then drive and not come back," Ella said.

Ella said her son and daughter could go into a home but they have been abused before and do not want to go back.

"I thought I was doing a good deed by helping my family but I have been punished."
She said she only gets 24 hours paid care a week for each of her children.

Ella's own health is not good, having had five heart by-passes six years ago.

"This recession comes in and I don't know what to do. I don't know where to turn." What keeps her going is a love for her family, her son and daughter.

She said someone has to stand up and say something.

Ella said the social agencies turn her away and point to "policies" as a reason not to help but policies should be built around human beings.

She appealed to others in her situation to "go for help", despite their pride.

"The more voices they hear, they know that there is a problem, a real problem but they're turning a blind eye, why? Because they are comfortable because they have so much on their plates," Ella said.