I was honoured to provide the catering for a pre-Pride event last Friday. The atmosphere was tremendous, and the food was much enjoyed. I hope to have the privilege of supporting future Pride events.
The event had a small budget, so in order to make the money go as far as possible, I had to make food choices that I would not normally make. This made me think about how fortunate I am to be able to choose my food freely. It brought home to me that many people in Britain do not have that choice.
Food bank use is becoming increasingly common
According to the Trussell Trust, Britain’s largest food bank network, 20,247,042 meals were given to people in food poverty in 2013/14, and more than half a million children in the UK live in families who are unable to provide a minimally acceptable diet. It’s shocking.
Obviously this massive problem needs to be tackled at government level. However, individuals can help too. If, like me, you have sufficient funds for a nutritious diet, here are 5 ways to help those who do not.
- Many religious buildings organise collections of food and toiletries for families in poverty. The recipients do not need to belong to that particular religion, and neither do the donors.
- You can give non-perishable food directly to a food bank. Find your nearest here http://www.trusselltrust.org/map.
- Give some time to a food bank or soup kitchen. Here are 3 that I found in London from a simple Internet search: http://www.trusselltrust.org/volunteer, http://amchurch.co.uk/soup-kitchen/, http://volunteerteam.london.gov.uk/opportunities/index.php?opp_id=1246.
- If you shop online you can raise money for the Trussell Trust. It doesn’t cost you anything, but the retailer will donate a percentage of your spend to the Trussell Trust. Find out more here https://www.giveasyoulive.com/join/thetrusselltrust.
- If there is a vulnerable person living near you, they may appreciate help with shopping, or with cooking tips. Elderly widowers may be at particular risk of poor nutrition if they cannot get to the shops or lack basic cooking skills.
Next post: How to make your food budget go further.