Who says only superheroes wear capes? <br /><br />Meet Tanisha Bramwell - a young woman who selflessly runs a community food bank - and even tops up struggling locals' gas and electricity from her own pocket. <br /><br />Tanisha, 28, delivers free food to the homes of 400 vulnerable people struggling with the cost of living and often helps them with their energy bills.<br /><br />She has run Bramwell’s CIC Food Bank - which supplies meals for up to 400 people per week - since 2020.<br /><br />The food bank spends £500-a-week on food that is then packaged up and delivered to vulnerable people in Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield.<br /><br />Tanisha, from Kirklees, West Yorkshire, said: "I wanted change locally and rather than sitting around and hoping someone would help, I decided to do it myself. <br /><br />"The other thing that inspired me is the children in my life. My nieces and nephews are growing up in the same communities I did.<br /><br />"I wanted to make their little worlds a little better than ours was."<br /><br />The food bank, which is run from a 'gifted' town centre unit, relies on funding streams, and donations, from people moved by Tanisha's social channels.<br /><br />But things have got tougher since the Covid-19 pandemic, which means Tanisha herself - as well as her volunteers - have used their own money to keep it going on top of regular donations.<br /><br />The cost of keeping the service going through the cost of living crisis means the organisation is looking for a long-term sponsor.<br /><br />Tanisha, who is single, says the cost of living crisis "doesn't need to be here" and it's the fault of the Government, which has "refused to instate adequate support packages."<br /><br />She added: "We are saving lives. Our government are destroying them."<br /><br />Footage shows Tanisha on her daily rounds, where she is seen doing a big shop and going to people's homes with tailor-made deliveries.<br /><br />Tanisha is also seen going above and beyond for those who are unable to pay their energy bills.<br /><br />She often pays to top up gas and electricity meters for those who simply can not afford them, and says that she spends an estimated £400-a-week doing this.<br /><br />One further clip shows the appreciation of those who have witnessed her work, with one person ringing her up to thank her for the work she does.<br /><br />Tanisha's hope for the future is that she can end her food bank, but with the cost of living crisis, it feels far from it.<br /><br />She added: "Food banks are a lifeline, but we are a short-term fix. Nobody should normalise food banks because they're not normal. <br /><br />"My role will always be to help. As social needs change. I don’t know what the future holds just yet but that’s the exciting part. <br /><br />"Until then, we keep going."
