Winter doesn’t arrive gently for everyone. At Provision House, one of FareShare Midlands’ committed member organisations, the season brings a surge of people trying to stay afloat as the cost of living rises and Christmas draws nearer. The team sees families and individuals walking through their doors carrying the weight of decisions no one should have to make; heating or eating, gifts or groceries, rent or a full food cupboard.

A Sudden Crisis No Family Could Prepare For

One day, an elderly couple arrived at Provision House with a story almost too heavy to hold. They had suddenly become carers for their two young granddaughters after a devastating accident. They were grieving, frightened, and weeks away from their next pension payment. Nigel, a volunteer, recalls the moment clearly:
“Two elderly people came in. They’d lost their son and his wife to a car crash. Left two young girls… got to wait another four weeks for their pension, and they’ve got two extra mouths to feed.”

With food from FareShare Midlands on the shelves, Provision House didn’t have to hesitate. They could give this family a full food shop on the same day. As Nigel added,
“Everyone’s got a different story, and we’re here to help. If we can help, it makes us happy as well.”

The Quiet Crises Behind Closed Doors

Not every hardship arrives in a single moment. For many people, it’s the slow, grinding pressure of bills rising faster than income, leaving cupboards empty long before payday.

April, a service user of Provision House, described it simply but powerfully:
“There’s been weeks where I’ve had literally no food in. And I’ve come here, cap in hand, and they’ve sorted me out with a bag full of food.”

For her, the support isn’t just transactional; it is emotional. She said that coming to Provision House feels like coming to a place where she is known and cared for:
“It’s like you come to see friends, you come to see family.”

And in winter, where “Christmas is a very extravagant and very expensive time of year,” that sense of belonging matters more than ever.

Bills Rising, Budgets Shrinking, Families Struggling

Many parents are finding that even working full-time isn’t enough to keep up with the cost of living. One mum explained the financial squeeze with heartbreaking honesty:

“The bills are increasing all the time. By the time we get paid at the end of the month and pay all our bills, there’s hardly anything left for us to live off for the rest of the month.”

With Christmas approaching, the worry only grows:
“But this year, we’re struggling. Terrible. The kids have given me the Christmas list… I don’t know what we’re going to do. They ain’t going to get what they want this year.”

She ended up with a truth shared by many who rely on Provision House:
“FareShare really helps us. We wouldn’t be able to cope without it.”

A Partnership That Lightens the Load

For Provision House, the partnership with FareShare Midlands is essential. It’s what keeps their shelves stocked, their food club running, and their support sustainably. Their Head of Service, Ruth, explains the impact clearly:

“With the partnership that we have with FareShare Midlands, it just means that the stress element of providing food is taken away. Our members know that they can come here and get a substantial amount of food for a lower cost, which means their income can go on other things, presents for children, energy bills, things like that.”

She also emphasised that without FareShare Midlands, their food provision simply wouldn’t be possible:
“We wouldn’t be able to afford the food that we get from FareShare Midlands without this partnership.”

It’s a partnership built on shared purposes, ensuring that families have access to food, dignity, and support when they need it most.

Double Your Impact This Winter

With demand rising, there has never been a more important time to support FareShare Midlands. Through the Big Give Christmas Challenge, every donation made during the campaign will be matched, doubling its impact.

As Ruth puts it,
“The Big Give week is so important because anything anybody donates will be matched, and that just means it goes further, and we can help more people in need.”

Watch the full story here.
Donate to the Big Give Christmas Challenge:

Your donation is doubled. Your kindness is felt immediately. Your support helps families eat this winter.

If you have any questions, contact us:
Email: fundraising@faresharemidlands.org.uk
Number: 07943 771206