Finding hope in the midst of a perfect, horrible storm

 In the 13-year history of our food bank, things have never been so tough.

Food costs have risen dramatically (up 37% in the past five years), rents have increased by an average of £221 per month in the past three years and benefits and wages aren’t keeping pace.

It’s the perfect, horrible storm.

Not only do we see more visitors struggling to afford the essentials, but the cost of the food we buy has increased drastically.

Every month Hackney Foodbank spends around £30,000 on food yet, with prices rising steeply, our budget buys us much less.  And still, the number of people we support keeps rising.  We are currently providing emergency food and support for around 800 people a week (a 20% increase on last year). 

Extreme weather and war have impacted the supply of food, which in turn drives prices up. Businesses are grappling with a rise in the minimum wage and higher National Insurance Contributions and that too is ultimately a cost that gets passed on to consumers.

Residents have also been hit hard by rent rises.  According to Zoopla, the average monthly cost of renting a home in the UK has risen by £221 in three years.  Mortgage costs are up too! Many of the people who support us are also feeling the pinch.

Our caseworkers have been described as “living angels” and for good reason - the support they give our visitors is life-changing and often means they don’t need the food bank for on-going support.   But we need more caseworkers if we’re to meet the huge need in the community.

Things are tougher than we can ever remember but there’s plenty of hope. We’re thankful to our volunteers, staff and supporters who ensure those facing hunger feel the love of their community and we’re full of admiration for our visitors.