In common with many offices across the land, my company offers two days per year for employees to volunteer at the charity of their choice. Being a sociable bunch, we opted for a team volunteering day. But with an endless supply of good causes, who to choose? Being food lovers who love the indoors this time of year, we chose a team volunteering day at Hackney Food Bank. And what an eye opener it turned out to be.
What is Hackney Food Bank?
Located a stone’s throw from the sleek offices of Silicon Roundabout, the unassuming Florence Bennett Centre sends 2.4 tonnes of food every week to five food bank centres in Hackney. As another huge delivery is urgently dispatched to St Mary’s Church in Stoke Newington, we gasp at the alarming rows of empty food shelves. Over the last six months, demand has doubled while contributions have dwindled in the wake of prolonged Brexit uncertainty. A few of the reasons for this surge in demand include: low income, zero hour contracts, ill health and delays in receiving benefits payments.
A typical day at Hackney Food Bank
Every week, hundreds of cartons of orange juice, milk, tins of meat, vegetables and fruit travel to each distribution centre. We learn that the majority of claimants are working but are struggling to meet ends meet due to zero-hour contracts and delays in accessing benefit payments. Over one third of claimants are children. As contributions dwindle, supplies are rationed. Old plastic water and washing up bottles are recycled into cooking oil containers. Weetabix is gold dust as it’s separated and therefore easily portioned out. In addition to food supplies, the centre is also desperately in need of basic toiletries such as toothbrushes and deodorant. But most alarming of all is the need for toilet rolls – the lack of which is dehumanising to people who are often at their lowest ebb.
Stacking the shelves with fresh supplies, we’re frustrated to find that many donations, including a prize bumper supply of corn flakes, are past their sell-by date and have to be rejected. The most common items donated are pasta and baked beans. In typically British fashion, we discover a whole wall rammed full of tea bags. Tinned meats and in particular corned beef is prized as it can be eaten hot or cold – we learn that not everyone has the facilities to heat up their food. For the same reason, packet soups come into their own in this environment.
Top Food items urgently required at Hackney Food Bank
Tins of meat – particularly corned beef
Tinned mackerel, sardines
Breakfast cereal – particularly Weetabix
Cartons of Milk (UHT only)
Cartons of fruit juice
Packet soup
Tinned vegetables – particularly carrots and potatoes
Deodorant – (Sainsburys sells the cheapest at 50p)
Toothbrushes / toothpaste
Toilet roll
washing detergent tablets
Nappies particularly size five and six
Our team volunteering day at Hackney Food Bank not only provided some all important team bonding outside the office, but also opened our eyes to the huge struggles of so many of London’s residents. It was a truly humbling experience and once which has spurred us on to greater fundraising activities to help support Hackney Food Bank into the future.
For more information on food banks in your area, contact: The Trussell Trust.