Drum up funds for Hackney Foodbank with Speaker's 5km walk

Families and residents are being encouraged to go the distance in a sponsored walk for a charity providing ‘incredible support for people in crisis’. The Speaker of Hackney, Cllr Kam Adams is organising a virtual 5km walk to raise money for Hackney Foodbank between 10-17 May, with those signing up receiving a free t-shirt to walk in. Participants, taking part as separate households rather than together due to lockdown restrictions, will walk into an area of Hackney of their choice and are encouraged to share images using the hashtag #HackneyFoodbank5k.

The foodbank, which is Cllr Adams’ chosen charity, provides three days’ of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.

From Cllr Adams:                                                                                                                       

“Hackney Foodbank has been providing incredible support for local people in crisis. The team’s dedication to helping people has been especially crucial during the pandemic, with volunteers having to adapt and cope with high levels of demand.

Please join me in taking on this 5km challenge in a location in Hackney of your choice. Although not together physically, we can still collectively make a difference by raising as much money as possible for Hackney Foodbank so that no one in our community has to go hungry during these challenging times. the pandemic, with volunteers having to adapt and cope with high levels of demand.”

Volunteers at the charity distribute food from St John Hoxton’s crypt in Pitfield Street on Monday,  Our Lady and St Joseph's RC Church in Dalston on Tuesday, St Thomas’ in Clapton Common on Wednesday, St Mary’s in Stoke Newington Church Street on Thursday and the Florence Bennett Centre in Cherbury Street on Saturday.

From Sue Bell, Chair of Trustees at Hackney Foodbank:                               

“We are so delighted to have been chosen as the Speaker’s charity of the year. 2020 was a challenging year for us, but we are truly thankful for all the support we received from the community in response to the increasing need among some of the most vulnerable in Hackney. Demand on Hackney foodbank has increased from 8,106 people given help in 2019 to over 19,400 people in 2020. The year also saw a pronounced increase in the number of people who have never visited a food bank before and we expect that the number of people needing to use the food bank will keep growing in 2021.

It has been quite humbling to see the efforts of our local community come together to help us provide people with a way out of food poverty. Let's keep the momentum going, join Cllr Adams in participating in the virtual 5km challenge which is being kindly sponsored by Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited, and together we can continue the mission to tackle food poverty.”

As of March 29, residents will be allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the “rule of six”, and those taking part are asked to stick to the Government guidelines when taking part in the event. Expressions of interest can be made by emailing speaker@hackney.gov.uk with details of how many people are taking part. The deadline for expressing interest is 26 March. Participants are encouraged to collect money for Hackney Foodbank in the lead-up and after the event via uk.gofundme.com. Visit Hackney Council to find out more about the Speaker's events and engagements.