‘Makes a big difference’: Organisers of Halloween food bank trail urge residents and businesses to sign up

Trick or Eat is a ‘chance to gently shift the focus towards giving’. Photograph: Trick or Eat

A Halloween donation scheme is back this month to collect supplies for struggling food banks across East London.

Organisers of the annual Trick or Eat trail are urging businesses and residents to take part.

Since its launch four years ago, the scheme has collected more than eight tonnes of food for charities to redistribute.

Households place collection boxes outside their homes on the afternoon or evening of Halloween for families to drop off non-perishable food while they’re out trick-or-treating.

Local Buyers Club founders Jenna and Basil Fansa. Photograph: Trick or Eat

The initiative is run by London’s shop-local discount card the Local Buyers Club.

Founder Jenna Fansa said: “Like many families, we enjoy getting dressed up for Halloween and the kids love collecting treats – but with so many people in our community going hungry, Trick or Eat is a chance to gently shift the focus towards giving and hopefully ease the pressure on the food bank.

“Children really enjoy following the map to find places to donate.

“We’d love to hear from homes and businesses willing to act as collection points on Monday 31 October so we can add them to the trail.

“I’d urge anyone out trick-or-treating in Hackney this Halloween to buy some store-cupboard essentials to donate to the food bank.”

The Citizen reported last month that donations to Hackney Foodbank are half what they were last year, while demand has more than doubled.

Around 40 per cent of the people supported by the food bank are employed.

Tanya Whitfield, Hackney Foodbank’s head of services, said: “Trick or Eat makes a big difference to us each year. The Local Buyers Club team puts considerable effort into running this event and we’re always moved to tears by the response.

“Things are pretty tough at the moment. We’re having to give out no-heat food parcels to some residents who can’t afford to heat food and, as people struggle to meet the cost of living, we’re seeing huge demand which will only worsen as the evenings get colder.”

Traders in Stoke Newington are among those supporting the scheme. Many will be open to trick-or-treaters from 3pm until 6pm on 31 October, and they will have food collection boxes too.

Items in short supply include corned beef, tea and coffee, tinned fruit, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, long-life juice, loo rolls, biscuits, UHT milk, curry sauce, pasta sauce, shampoo, shower gel and sanitary towels.

To sign up for Trick or Eat, visit trickoreat.co.uk.