‘I work full time and still use a food bank – it’s normal now’

Estelle O’Brien never expected to need a food bank. The 45-year-old, who hails from south London, has always worked full-time and has weaved the day-to-day complexities of raising two young children throughout her busy career.

But after being laid off twice about 18 months ago, he found himself struggling to make ends meet. Her neighbor, who volunteers at a community food bank, said she can find help just around the corner by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste. When it came out, she was “shocked” by the number of people she knew who were also struggling.

“You would be surprised how many people you actually know come to use these food banks,” he said. “You see people coming in that you would never think would need a food bank. I see a lot of people I know who work here full time.

“I never thought I’d be affected by the cost of living, but with everything going up including gas, it’s nice to come here and get some help with your grocery bill.” he continued. “It’s really been a huge weight lifted.”

Ms O’Brien, who is now back to working full-time at a major technology company, said it was still difficult to cover shopping costs for several weeks. She still uses the service, but also volunteers there to help transform the lives of others in the same way it helped her.

He is one of dozens of people gathered at a small community center in Rotherhithe on a sultry Friday afternoon. The tables outside are piled high with red tomatoes, ripe avocados, potatoes, carrots, peppers, apples, oranges, strawberries and bunches of parsley strung together. Under the leafy canopy that covers the entrance, carts and shopping bags are filled with a steady stream of hands, while familiar faces find each other with smiles. The whole picture gives the distinct impression of a farmer’s market in a quaint English town.

Inside, volunteers hand out giant catering boxes of chicken, chickpea salad, sandwich fillings, tomato salsa, dried noodles and bags of supermarket-brand oats and cereal. All that food, once destined for cafes, restaurants or supermarket shelves, could have been thrown straight into the bin. Thanks to the determination of one charity, it’s here, going directly into the hands of those who need it most.

Felix is ​​the UK’s largest food redistribution charity, working with supermarkets, wholesalers and community partners across the country to simultaneously tackle food insecurity and waste. Named after 14-year-old Felix Byam-Shaw, who tragically died of meningitis in 2014, the charity has been serving communities like this in London since 2016. Following its recent merger with national charity FareShare, Felix’s operations are now nationwide, reaching an estimated 1.5 million people each year.

The aid agency says demand has increased, especially since the Iran war began in February. In a recent survey among partners, 41 percent of respondents said demand had increased, while 13 percent said demands had doubled in the past year.

Ms O’Brien believes demand has “definitely increased” in the 18 months since she started using the food bank.

“You see people coming in and they really need food,” he said. “They’re really grateful for anything you can give them. A lady came in and she had been kicked out of her house. She didn’t have any food, so we gave her some food and she started crying.

“He was saying, ‘I’m really sorry I have to use this.’ And I told him, ‘But I use it. It’s okay. We all use it.’ It’s normal to come to food banks now.”

The charity’s partner here is Rotherhithe Community Kitchen (RCK), a local initiative founded by local resident Vimal Pandya in November 2023. The goal, he says, is not just to give people food, but to provide them with a community space where they can learn nutritious eating in a social, non-judgmental environment.

Unlike some other food banks that require referrals, anyone can come to RCK, no questions asked. “This doesn’t just apply to benefits. They don’t judge you here,” Ms O’Brien said. “You don’t have to show or prove anything. Everyone is welcome, so there’s a real sense of community.”

Volunteer Natalia Pasynok, who lives in Rotherhithe, has been devoting time to the kitchen for about a year. Her 14-year-old son has a genetic disorder and is autistic. He knows firsthand how services like this can become a lifeline for many people with disabilities or additional needs.

“I’ve told all the different special needs communities about this food bank, and they’re all incredibly grateful because these families have expenses that maybe other families that don’t have children with special needs don’t,” she explained.

“There is a lot of demand and a lot of people are grateful for this opportunity and it is very easy to access.”

Halil Muhammed, 53, has been working as a volunteer in the kitchen for about two years. He said he sees “every corner of the community” lining up at the food bank every week.

He added that there had been a “massive increase” on the distribution list last year, from about 600 people to more than 1,000 now.

“People are struggling,” he said. “They have families to feed. In fact, the people, the people we serve, don’t have a fixed history.”

Despite this, volunteers here understand that many people may still struggle with feelings of shame and stigma that come with using a food bank. They want people to know that their service is “public.”

“We’re not looking at the past, we’re not looking at the need, we’re just inviting everyone to come and buy food,” Mr Mohammed said.

“We prefer food to be used, we prefer it to be zero waste. That’s the mantra behind the charity; we want food to be used and provided to people who need it.”