People struggling with the cost of living crisis have exhausted their loans with banks and credit unions.
That's according to Cork Penny Dinners, who say people are coming to the charity have been turning to money lenders for help.
The soup kitchen say they expected a spike in people coming to them for help as schools who provide lunches for children in need are on mid-term break, and as parents prepare for Christmas.
Some people told the charity they are borrowing from multiple money lenders and are facing mental health problems due to the stress of the cost of living situation.
Speaking to RedFM News, Caitriona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners says people who never came to them before are now asking for help:
"Other people might have exhausted their funds or their loans in either the credit union or the bank and other people might be paying back loans to them as well. The rest of the years has been harder and harder for people to do. That turned into unofficial moneylenders who've always been an issue I suppose, for a long time but there are more people turning into them."
