Hackney Foodbank issues appeal for festive hampers

Appealing for festive Hampers: Tanya of Hackney Foodbank

An urgent plea has been issued to businesses, churches and community groups for festive hampers for visitors to Hackney Foodbank this Christmas.

Staff at the food bank say the festive period is looking particularly bleak this year as the cost-of-living crisis means many households are unable to afford heating or basic food, let alone treats.

Tanya Whitfield, Head of Services at Hackney Foodbank, said: “We will be giving out food parcels right up until Christmas Eve and it would be wonderful to be able to give every visitor a hamper. In previous years, receiving a few extra treats and knowing someone has cared enough to put together a hamper for them is enough to bring our visitors to tears.

‘This year we don’t have nearly enough hampers for everyone referred to us and we’d love to hear from community groups and businesses willing to donate and put them together.”

Typical contents of a Christmas hamper for the food bank include mince pies, puddings, tinned ham, chocolates and other festive treats.

Frontline care professionals, such as health visitors, social workers and other community-based support workers, who are able to identify people in crisis, are among those referring to the food bank.  Demand is soaring and more donations of food and money are urgently needed.

Tanya added: ‘Christmas is a very tough time to be hungry – it’s cold and it is heartbreaking to know you cannot give your children a Christmas treat when everyone else is celebrating. Hidden behind closed doors there are many families with little to look forward to this Christmas, the good news is we can all help. We hope that the people of Hackney will join our festive hamper campaign to give local people experiencing hardship a happier Christmas.’

If you’re a local business or community group and can pledge to put together a certain number of hampers, please email info@hackneyfoodbank.org