Kosher food parcels a lifeline for family with additional needs

When Anne was referred to Hackney Foodbank by a charity in her Orthodox Jewish community, the financial pressure on her young family eased.

Three of Anne’s young family have additional needs; one has ADHD, another has autism.  Their needs are so severe that one required a feeding tube and another was born with deafness, visual impairment and a cleft lip and palette. He has required multiple surgeries.

She said: “I struggle with depression and anxiety and I can’t cope.  When the charity Bikur Cholim referred me to the food bank, it was like a great weight was lifted.  Knowing people are caring – it makes things easier.

“We aren’t spenders, and my husband works but financially it has been very difficult for us.  I can’t do a proper job anymore because of the children’s needs. We get Universal Credit, but it isn’t enough.  There have been months where we haven’t had anything – things are very tight.

“The food parcel we’ve received from Hackney Foodbank has been a great help. Kosher food is very expensive. In the school holidays the food bank gave us Tesco vouchers so we could buy food for the children.

“There definitely is a lot of poverty in the Jewish community – the costs of everything have gone up but for many people wages have stayed the same. The rents are very high. I do worry about money.  I think it’s right to ask for help because of my children’s situation.”

Anne, 39, whose children are aged two, four, eight, nine and 11, receives her emergency kosher food parcels via the Hackney Giving Van, a mobile food bank that’s out supporting the Hackney community five days a week.  

In addition, the food bank’s food distribution centres are open six days a week; including two evening slots to support the working poor. The charity experiencing a 45% increase in demand and is currently supporting an average of 650 people per week.

Their food parcels are suitable for people of many cultures and dietary needs. As well as Kosher parcels, they offer Halal, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free parcels.

Visit https://www.hackney.foodbank.org.uk