A MUM-of-two in the midst of a financial crisis is encouraging others to swallow their pride and turn to a foodbank for help.

Lel Yates, of Diamond Street, Leigh, has struggled to make ends meet after losing her job as a carer in June and splitting up with her long-term partner.

The 30-year-old went to a foodbank for the first time on Thursday and says it was one of the best decisions of her life.

After picking up a week’s worth of food for herself and her children from Atherton and Leigh Foodbank’s Vernon Street centre at Leigh Baptist Church on Vernon Street, Lel said: “The past four months have been very hard for me and I have had to sell a lot of items to raise money, such as jewellery and other belongings.

“My family, friends and neighbours have been very supportive but I do not want to have to keep asking for their help.

“It was time to swallow my pride and go to a foodbank, and I cannot thank the volunteers who work there and the people who make donations to the centre enough.

“The staff were amazing and made me feel comfortable.”

Lel says she was wrong to be hesitant to turn to the foodbank for help.

“I felt it was humiliating and degrading to have to go to a foodbank,” she added.

"My situation had affected me emotionally and mentally, but I feel like a massive weight has been lifted just by opening up and facing my problems head on.

“I want other people who are struggling to know they are not alone and they should not feel ashamed to ask for help and go to a foodbank.”

The Red Lion pub in Lowton was also willing to help Lel and her children, offering them a three-course meal after reading about their plight on social media.

But Lel said: “I am very appreciative of the pub’s offer, but I had just been to a foodbank I did not want to take anything else from people.

“There are some great members of our community, people with overwhelming kindness and selflessness.

“I cannot thank them all enough.”