Donate this Harvest to help local people through the winter

This Harvest season, we’re reaching out to Wandsworth Borough’s local community to help support our work to reduce the hardship and hunger that many of our neighbours are experiencing.

During the last few years, Wandsworth Foodbank has experienced record levels of need as more people struggle to afford the essentials. Last year we provided more than 13,000 emergency food parcels, and two-thirds went to households with children.

It is likely that this situation will only worsen this winter as rising energy costs put extra pressure on household budgets – so this Harvest is a particularly important time for local communities to support the food bank and help us stock up in time for winter.

Emily (name has been changed) is one local person who needed to turn to Wandsworth Foodbank and its Foodbank Advice Project earlier this year, after a series of difficult life events led to illness and being unable to continue paid work. She says:

“I wasn’t prepared for what life was actually going to throw at me. I had a really good job, I had friends, I had this long-term partner – on paper my life was fine. I made money, I was never in debt, I was really good with my bills.

 

“But quite a few things all happened at once, and I just ended up totally on my own. I got diagnosed with some mental health, PTSD and depression. Then I was signed off work sick, and I think that had an effect because you don’t have your routine anymore and you don’t have your money.

 

“Being on Universal Credit caused me more worry. It’s an amazing service and I can’t believe we have it, but it doesn’t even cover my rent. So not only do I not have the rent, I don’t have the bills, I don’t have the food money. That lack of money for the basics made it really difficult. I felt really lost and stuck. That’s the point I came to the food bank.

 

“What was really difficult was coming to the fact that you have to go to a food bank – that you cannot afford to live, that you’re going to have to accept support. But when I went to St Mark’s Church food bank centre, I actually found that experience really pleasant. They’re really down to earth people. It really helped me get an understanding of what was going on, and that it was ok to accept the help.

 

“It’s been amazing. The amount of thought that’s gone into this food bank service – I hope they know it actually pays off because there was a point in time when I just couldn’t see a way out. I don’t even know why I got up in the morning, because I definitely didn’t want to.

 

“It was the understanding that people go through difficult times, and then they help you get back on your feet. They don’t just give you food and make you feel like a victim. It’s like, how are we going to get out of this?

 

“It’s more helpful than just giving you food – it’s given you a future, a plan, it makes you want to get better, it makes you want to keep going.”

This autumn, any way that local people can support Wandsworth Foodbank – from donating food and essential toiletries, starting a regular financial donation, or volunteering – will make a big difference for local people and families needing to use the food bank, like Emily.

if you’re part of a school, community, church or faith group, you can download and print our Harvest donation poster to encourage people in your community to donate.

For many of the people who receive our support, like for Emily, walking through the doors of the food bank is not easy – but it is a place of welcome, care, and access to advice to help them resolve difficult issues that are causing hardship.

But we need the help of the community during Harvest to continue to address hunger and reduce hardship in Wandsworth Borough, and to provide warm hospitality and hope to local people and families who don’t have anyone else to lean on. Thank you.

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