Kind Twitter users have rallied together to help a nurse, after she admitted being forced to use food banks to feed her two children.
Beverley Penman took to Twitter this week to reveal her harrowing ordeal, posting a picture of tinned food, dried pasta and even toilet roll she had been given in donations.
The single mother-of-two, who lives in Wiltshire, admitted she felt ‘demoralised’ resorting to foodbanks as a full-time nurse – and that telling her children they could not celebrate Christmas this year ‘broke her’.
Ms Penman also confessed she ‘never thought she would have to do this’ in her profession in order to feed her family, resulting in Twitter users rallying around to help her.
Nurse Beverley Penman from Wiltshire took to Twitter this week to reveal her harrowing ordeal, posting a picture of tinned food, dried pasta and even toilet roll she had been given in donations
Posting to Twitter, she wrote: ‘A few weeks ago I had to turn to my local food bank as a nurse I never thought I would have to do this.
‘I’ve also taken advantage of my towns community fridge I feel demoralised that doing the job I do I’ve had to resort to this, austerity has hit me hard this is what I got’.
The mother said despite being a working mother, she still struggles with the cost of childcare as a single parent – and has extra expenses due to her son being diagnosed with autism.
She later commented: ‘I work full time due to the cost of childcare, I am not the only nurse in this situation and yes there are people worse off than me and my bad times will go it’s not permanent, it will get better.
‘My children actually are understanding. Last year my son asked for snow and biscuits.’
‘I don’t think people realise how bad things are I am a single parent with no help from their father. The thing is, as nurses we need to eat otherwise how can we coherently make clinically safe decisions’.
Ms Penman also confessed she ‘never thought she would have to do this’ in her profession in order to feed her family
Posting on Twitter, she wrote: ‘A few weeks ago I had to turn to my local foodbank as a nurse I never thought I would have to do this’
The mother said despite working, she still struggles with the cost of childcare as a single parent – and has extra expenses due to her son being diagnosed with autism
However kindhearted social media users were quick to offer help to the single mother to ensure she could enjoy Christmas with her family.
Some offered to give her donations of household essentials, while others wanted to to send her children gifts from Santa.
One wrote: ‘How old are your little ones? I’ll happily send some gifts from Santa to you, whack it on an amazon wish list. Us nurses have got to look after each other’.
Another said: ‘Happy to forward £500 toward a great Christmas for you children’.
Elsewhere one tweeted: ‘Happy to help. I have been where you are (was a single mum nurse then med student) – well done you for doing an amazing job as a hardworking nurse and single mum’.
‘I’m really saddened to see your struggles, when I’m in a similar position. I can calculate Universal Credit entitlement with my eyes closed, if you want to discuss I’m here,’ another wrote.
However kindhearted social media users were quick to offer help to the single mother, with some offering to give her donations of household essentials, while others wanted to buy her children gifts for Christmas
One said: ‘NHS nurses and midwives brought my children safely into the world. There’s no more precious gift anyone could give. I’d be honoured to send your little ones something for Christmas’.
‘I work in a homemade artisan soap shop. When the soaps are cut we are left with large end pieces. May I send you some soap, shampoo bars, shave bar? I have gentle one for children too. I can keep you topped up constantly,’ another user offered.
Ms Penman later thanked Twitter users for offering to help her through a difficult time, revealing she felt ‘overwhelmed’ by the kind messages.
‘I am feeling overwhelmed I have to say I think telling my two kids I can’t afford Christmas this year sort of broke me and I needed to post to let people see the realities of what is going on. So many kind words and messages thank you,’ she wrote.
Ms Penman later thanked Twitter users for offering to help her through a difficult time, revealing she felt ‘overwhelmed’ by the kind messages