Single mothers desperate for food have surged in numbers, according to the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

Since the beginning of the last school year, the number of school children using the Coalition’s breakfast programme has jumped by a third.

And rising numbers of families relying on donated food are straining the Coalition’s resources. Coalition chairwoman Sheelagh Cooper called it a “tsunami situation” brought on by economic factors.

Ms Cooper and Coalition director Nicola Feldman estimate the group’s Breakfast for every Child programme, which provides free breakfasts at four of the Island’s schools, has seen a 30 percent increase in demand since September, 2009.

According to Ms Feldman, the initiative is now delivering roughly 160 breakfasts each school day. “There’s been a steady increase, but as a whole the jump is bigger this school year compared to the last. We’re also seeing more of the children eating larger quantities of food.”

The scheme currently serves Victor Scott Primary School, Paget Primary, Prospect Primary and Dellwood Middle School.

Ms Cooper added: “We also have a food storehouse at the Coalition where mothers come in to pick up food.

“We are seeing an average of ten families coming in a day and these are families who have no food, none. These numbers have been increasing.

“Even five or six months ago we were probably seeing an average of five a day coming to the storehouse.”

Even the group’s Christmas hampers have been exhausted.

“This year we’re oversubscribed. We’ve stopped taking requests for them because right now we don’t have any more.”

Ms Cooper attributed the surge in demand to a lack of non-professional work.

“It’s not a breakdown of the family but a breakdown of the economy. In the bottom quarter of Bermuda’s economic structure, single mothers have been providing for children.

“A significant portion of these children’s mothers worked in hotels, many of them in housekeeping and other jobs.

“Many have lost their jobs or are having their hours substantially reduced, and they’re working part-time here and there.

“Many of them are bringing home as little as $200 a week, almost all of which goes into rent. These are women who simply can’t afford the basics. Their economic situation is impossible.”

Ms Cooper said she had personally dealt with 15 mothers urgently needing food one morning at the Coalition’s storehouse.

“It’s not sustainable for us. We’ve been very fortunate this Christmas, to have received such good community support in terms of donations, but going forward the situation will be very difficult.”