Volunteer hours double at Hackney Foodbank
The number of volunteer hours devoted to Hackney Foodbank has more than doubled in just a year as the community steps up to support people experiencing hardship.
In 2024 volunteers donated 11,100 hours to the food bank, compared to 5,250 the year before. So far in 2025, volunteers have given more than 2,000 hours.
They help with every aspect of the charity’s work; from packing and distributing emergency food parcels to admin support and driving.
Anna Bonato, Head of Food Distribution and Volunteering at Hackney Foodbank, said: “This community is amazing – as the need for emergency food and support has risen so local people have stepped up to give their time for free to help. We are currently supporting more than 750 people per week and the logistics of that, of sorting around 19-tonnes of food each month, are very challenging. Thanks to the kindness of our volunteers, we’re able to have a huge impact and we’re so very thankful.”
Some volunteers, like Marva Ledwidge, helped set up Hackney Foodbank at the start (13 years ago) and still volunteer each week.
Cathy Davison, a Volunteer at Hackney Foodbank.
Cathy Davison, volunteers most days and has donated more than 540 hours in the past 12 months. She said: “Since my redundancy, volunteering has really helped me – it’s helped me to get up and out and feel useful. I benefit from the routine, and I’ve made some great friends here. It has really helped my anxiety. In a way it has helped me more than I feel I’ve helped!”
Anna added: “Our volunteers are part of the family here – they’re the friendly faces welcoming our visitors and the people working tirelessly alongside our staff to ensure no-one in the community goes hungry.
“Volunteering for Hackney Foodbank is a great way to make friends, to make a positive difference and to become part of a team. Many of our volunteers have been with us for years. Our volunteers come from all walks of life; from freelance workers who help when work is quieter to retired people who live in the area.”
Demand for Hackney Foodbank has increased by 30% in the past 12 months as residents struggle with stagnating wages, rising prices and a Universal Credit system, which according to leading poverty charities, fails to cover the basics.
The charity has responded by increasing training to get more volunteers inducted, ramping up fundraising and taking on more caseworkers to help residents on to better situations.
To volunteer for Hackney Foodbank, visit: www.hackney.foodbank.org.uk/volunteer