Local Buyers Club delivers vital supplies to Food Bank and repeats its campaign

A campaign by the Local Buyers Club to raise funds for Hackney Food Bank in their most difficult period has had a tremendous response.

As hundreds of local families struggle to make ends meet this summer holidays, we’ve just delivered a car full of supplies. And we’re fundraising again as the need is still so great.

For every membership bought between now and Sunday August 20th, we’ll donate £5 worth of food to the Food Bank.

Basil Fansa, a founder of the Local Buyers Club, said: “We’ve read a lot in the national news and heard from staff at the local food bank that the school holidays are a really challenging time for many families, who rely on free school meals.

“Hackney Food Bank was running desperately low on even the basic supplies – they gave us a shopping list and we’ve been able to help replenish their stocks. We’re determined to make a difference in the communities we serve and our thanks go to everyone who supported the campaign by joining the Buyers Club.”

Last year Hackney Food Bank fed 3,458 people in crisis, almost a third were children. They help around 70 families a week but many more are in dire need. Many of those they help have no food or money because of issues with their benefits payments – increasingly people in poverty face benefits sanctions if they fail to turn up to a scheduled meeting. That can prove particularly hard for those with mental or physical illness or disabilities.

A large number of those helped by the Food Bank are destitute and many suffering from malnutrition– they have no recourse to public funds, some are awaiting visas and their documents are awaiting assessment from the Home Office so they’re not eligible for benefits.

Among the items donated by the Local Buyers Club were tinned goods (meat, tuna, fruit and vegetables), long-life juice and milk, pasta and curry sauces, custard, rice pudding, coffee and jam.

The Food Bank is also appealing for volunteers either to help out in their warehouse, one of their distribution centres or doing deliveries. Please email melanierochford@hackney.foodbank.org.uk for more details.

Basil added: “Supporting our campaign is win-win, by joining the club people are showing their support for local and independent businesses, saving money and helping to fund vital supplies for those in most need in our community.”

Join Local Buyers Club here: www.localbuyersclub.com/joinnow