‘Toughest time in living memory’: Hackney Foodbank launches emergency £100k appeal as it struggles to keep up with unprecedented demand

Long queue outside Hackney Foodbank. Photograph: Kristian Buus

Hackney Foodbank has launched an emergency crowdfunding appeal as it battles through the “toughest time in living memory”.

The charity hopes to raise at least £100,000 to help it cope with rocketing demand and a fall in donations.

In 2017, the Foodbank spent just £2,000 per year on food. This year, it is expecting to spend £125,000, and that figure could double in twelve months’ time as conditions worsen.

Comedian Aisling Bea is among those supporting the campaign.

She said: “We urgently need everyone who can to donate, to donate in any way they can with money or needed donations because the alternative is heart-breaking.

“The numbers in need are staggering. The Trussell Trust and its staff and volunteers work to the bone, I have seen it first-hand.”

Comedian Aisling Bea is backing the appeal. Photograph: Joseph Sinclair

Bea described the campaign as a chance to “ease the toll on people in even the most basic ways”, adding: “They are lobbying the government to act, but until they do, it is tragically left in the hands of the Trussell Trust and the public to prevent people, including many elderly and children, from going without food and hygiene supplies.”

Hackney Foodbank has set up a GoFundMe page for the appeal, and it is also urging the public to sign up for regular, monthly donations.

CEO Pat Fitzsimons said: “This is the toughest time in living memory. Food donations are half what they were last year and we’re feeding twice as many people as we were before the pandemic.

“The demand we’re seeing now is similar to at the height of the pandemic – the difference this time is that donations aren’t keeping pace.

“The cost of living has increased for everyone – inflation, the energy crisis, rising rents – and wages and benefits aren’t increasing.

“We’re seeing more working poor now. Food donations are so low that we’re having to shop for food – we’re spending an average of £4,000 per week, and that’s what we used to spend in a year.

“The people we help are destitute. We’re seeing adults and children who are malnourished, we’re hearing from schools where children have empty lunchboxes, where teachers are buying food for pupils and children’s teeth are rotting because their families can’t afford toothbrushes or toothpaste.

“We dream of a world where food banks aren’t required, but until then we urgently need the public to pledge to our emergency appeal to ensure nobody goes hungry this year.”

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/foodbank-launches-emergency-appeal.