In 2024, the United Kingdom faces a stark reality: approximately 3.12 million people are relying on food banks to meet their basic nutritional needs. This figure represents a significant increase from just under 26,000 people in 2008/09, and the latter was during the global economic recession!
Over the past decade, the number of individuals turning to food banks has surged, reflecting deepening economic challenges and systemic issues within the social safety net.
The rise in food bank usage may be attributed to several factors. Economic instability, rising living costs, and stagnant wages have all contributed to the growing need for emergency food assistance.
We know that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues, pushing more families into financial precarity. Additionally, cuts to social welfare programs and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis have left many households struggling to afford basic necessities.
In London, food bank reliance by families is particularly pronounced.
In spite of these challenges, we are always warmed to the bone when brothers and sisters come together to help to alleviate the suffering of our neighbours.
This week, we came across a wonderful story of faith in action, when members of a local Muslim community in London delivered nearly 1,600 kilograms of food to the London Food Bank, the culmination of more than a month of work by the group.
According to a representative from the Ahmadiyya Community Saddiq Ahmad, the food was collected by the London branch of its Muslim Youth Association from participating grocery stores in the city, and from members of the Ahmadiyya community in London, which has about 1,000 people.
While Christmas is not typically observed by practising Muslims, the youth group says that they felt inspired to donate at this time of year.
“It’s the season of giving. It’s a perfect month to donate. Everybody needs donations during this time. We want everyone to have a wonderful holiday. The London food drive is part of a national campaign by our Youth Association that includes donating to food banks and serving hot meals to those in need throughout November and December,” says Ahmad.
More than a dozen volunteers from the association unloaded a truckload and several carloads of non-perishable food at the food bank’s Leathorne Street facility this week.
Commenting on their work, the facility’s Co Executive Director Jan Roy says that the youth group donation, just days before Christmas, is just another way that Londoners from all different backgrounds and communities continue to come together to support the food bank.
“What’s great about the food bank is that we’re at the centre of all sorts of groups that wouldn’t normally work together. It’s amazing. They all help because they know Londoners need it,” says Roy.
The donation by the London youth group comes on the heels of a record-breaking Business Cares Food Drive, which wrapped up on 19 December.
The campaign championed by London’s business community, the single-largest food drive for the food bank each year, brought in the equivalent of 309,803 kilograms of food, a nine per cent increase over last year’s total.
The London Food Bank has seen community demand nearly double in the past three years. The charity now provides food to approximately 6,000 families a month, or 17,000 individuals.
While at a community level we are heartened to hear that people from all walks of life come together to support those living with food insecurity, the reliance on food banks in London underscores an urgent need for comprehensive policy interventions.
Solutions must include strengthening social safety nets, increasing access to affordable housing, and ensuring that wages keep pace with the cost of living.
Addressing food insecurity requires a multifaceted approach that tackles the root causes of poverty and inequality.
The current situation is a call to action for policymakers, communities, and individuals to come together and build a society where everyone has access to the food they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives inshallah.
MNATION will be on holidays from 23 December to 6 January 2025. We would like to thank all of MNATION’s supporters for a great first year since its inception, and we wish a Happy New Year to all our brothers and sisters from around the globe!
May Allah’s peace on Earth prevail and be a refuge for all in 2025.
Jazakallah Khair from all the team at MNATION.
Notes from the Editor: To make a donation to London Food Bank, click here.
