Hackney Foodbank appeal
The food bank feeds approximately 800 residents a week – and donations are desperately needed
A food bank volunteer gives a guest a food parcel
“For the price of one coffee a week you could be making sure someone in your community doesn’t go hungry,” says Jenna Fansa, head of communications and fundraising at Hackney Foodbank.
“It makes a massive difference to us when people give money – particularly monthly donations – because we can shop at wholesale prices and buy what we need when we need it,” she adds.
Hackney Foodbank feeds approximately 800 residents weekly – a 22 per cent increase in demand from last year. Operating every day, apart from Sundays, at six locations around the borough, the food bank provides emergency food and support to people who are in crisis or trapped in poverty.
Jenna continues: “Things are really tough for lots of people living in Hackney at the moment.”
Despite receiving regular food donations, including from the Felix Project, Hackney Foodbank staff say they’re limited in stock – and are calling for donations.
Food bank user Jennifer said if she had the money, she ‘wouldn’t mind’ putting in a fiver now and then. She says: “There’s older people than me who can’t afford anything, not even a water bottle.
“When there’s tea going I come in. I get lonely where I am. My kids visit but they never stay long.”
Watch a video about Hackney Foodbank
Laura Sharpe, who has volunteered at the food bank for one year, said she was ‘surprised’ at how many young families use it.
She says: “I more expected it to be mainly single people, but lots of families rely on us. Especially when you see young mums with babies, that really breaks my heart.”
The range of people visiting the food bank and using its services is wide. From those who are street homeless to people who have just come out of prison, to those who for whatever reason just can’t make ends meet.
For the latter, it’s a top-up for them to get by – not the emergency parcel it was originally intended to be.
Laura continues: “Please keep the donations coming in. It’s amazing when we’ve got enough stuff – when we’ve got enough food parcels coming in and we’re not going to be turning someone away or scrounging around at the last minute.
“Even if it’s just a tin of beans a week from your local Tesco or £5 a month on direct debit – so that we know we’re stable and we can continue to support people who really need it.”