A local food hub has thanked a Belfast based healthy meals company for six years of support as demand for their service rises.
Lifehub NI was founded by Edmund Aruofor in 2017 to address local issues regarding food poverty. Located in Townsend Enterprise Park, it is one of the only food hubs in Belfast to solely stock fresh food, which is given to those in need.
Starting eight years ago, Edmund was supporting around 150 families per week. Now, demand has risen to over 1,500 families per week, with deliveries going out to some hostels and primary schools as well.
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Around six years ago, Reuben's Gourmet Meal Co were looking for a way to donate leftover stock and some of their healthy ready meals that were close to expiry to avoid food waste. Contacting a number of food banks and local charities, Lifehub NI was the only spot at that time who were happy to accept fresh food.
Speaking to Belfast Live about the current situation in the city, Edmund said: "The increase in demand since we started Lifehub NI in 2017 has been astronomical. We thought when we were looking after 150 to 200 families it was a lot. In December 2024, we were looking after 900 families - we are now looking after 1,505 families.
"We deliver food to primary schools and the children have been so excited about the variety of fruit they have never tasted before that we've been giving them. Last Friday, for 53 children in part of the school we took over enough for each child to have two apples, a packet of strawberries, three or four bananas each.
"It's about trying to help build nutritious habits, you have to be deliberate about it. The children have motivated us more than anything else to keep going."
At Lifehub NI, Edmund is supported by a team of volunteer drivers - many of whom once used their services and now want to give back. He said his main aim is to make sure people do not go hungry.
"We're apolitical, we don't care what side you come from, we look after everybody," Edmund explained. "We don't care about your religion, sexual orientation, your drug habits. We stay in our lane, it's none of our business - all we do is food.
"If you need any other help, we can of course help signpost to other services, but we focus on providing people with nutritious, fresh food. We will continue doing this for as long as we have access to food.
"I'm 65 but have no plans to retire - what would I retire to, playing golf when I know there are people out there who are hungry? I live, breathe, and sleep being able to help feeding people."
Edmund said the help of Reuben's over the years means they have been able to feed an additional 450 adults in three different hostels across the city, as well as elderly people in local folds.
Jerry Lee, one of the managing directors of Reuben's, said they are honoured to be able to play their part in tackling food poverty across the city. He said: "When we started doing this around six years ago it was because we noticed we would always have some sort of excess stock and wondered what we could do with it.
"We contacted a few charities but a lot of the time they wouldn't accept fresh food. We then came across Edmund and have been donating to Lifehub NI ever since.
"Poverty is a massive issue and it's getting worse. Edmund is coming to us now and asking if we can give any more, as demand is growing every week. The cost of food and cost of living is through the roof for everybody. It's an expensive time for people, so he's seeing more and more people here."
As for how they are able to ensure they can donate regularly, Jerry said: "We would aim to bring around 200 to 300 meals here per week. That may be excess stock, sometimes it may be we produce a slight bit extra.
"We have drivers who leave stock in shops and if they see a shop maybe has a bit of excess stock, we ask them to lift that, and they'll bring that here directly at the end of that day. We've integrated the system into our delivery service that allows for this and to manage the stock. It's good the food is able to go somewhere it's needed and isn't just getting wasted."
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