The Copenhagen Street Foodbank is located in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
The Copenhagen Street Foodbank is able to help more people than ever thanks to local support
By Charlotte Mair
As of January, 92 % of UK households had experienced a cost of living increase, compared with a year earlier, according to Statista. With gas prices increasing by 96%, electricity by 54% and food by 13.1% everyone is feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.
Most significantly, the inflation on everyday items such as food has created a spike in the number of people relying on foodbanks. Last year, Trussell Trust distributed 283,563 food parcels in London to their food banks, which is expected to increase this year.
In Islington, there are several independent foodbanks. That’s not surprising, as despite having some affluent areas, Islington has the fourth highest rate of child poverty in the UK – and many families are forced to rely on foodbanks to keep themselves fed.
The Copenhagen Street Foodbank, located in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, is entirely by volunteers and is supported by donations. It opened in 2015 with a simple mission, according to its website: to help those struggling with food poverty.
Waiting in the cold
Attracta, the head volunteer, stresses how busy they are. It is only 12:25 pm, but there’s a growing queue of more than 50 people waiting in the cold to come in. Teas and coffees are handed out, and everyone is gracious for the services that are provided. There is a pile of decedent pastries on entry, donated by a local coffee shop that regularly sends over their surplus.
Due to the cost-of-living crisis, the Copenhagen has seen a sharp increase in visitors to the Thursday foodbank. “We used to have about 25 to 50 people when we first started. Last week we had 139 people, from that 139 people each person could have four people at home, we are feeding about 450, which is going up and up,” says Attracta.
Evidently with the numbers increasing the need for more goods to supply to all those attending is fuelling demand. Attracta explained that the need to keep up with demand is supported by local businesses.
“We’re very lucky, on Holloway Road the Co-op helps us, the Sunflour bakery gives us food and in Iceland, we have donation baskets which are always full when they come to us.
“I can spend around £700-£800 a week on the essentials, which is okay at the moment because of the donations.”
The foodbank is also supported by monthly donations from direct debts, and donations from The Guardian and Arsenal Football Club.
Local businesses fill the gap
Local businesses help in any way that they can. The Rotunda, a local bar and restaurant make up free hot meals for the foodbank every Thursday. For Christmas and Easter, the Parish also help out; for Christmas they were gifted £300 in Sainsburys vouchers to give to the families that needed them the most.
Also during the festive season, a development in the area gifted the foodbank with over £600 worth of clothing for children aged up to age ten who are supported by the foodbank. They wrapped them to ensure that every child had something to open for Christmas.
The food available to foodbank visitors is varied every week. Essentials such as cooking oil have to be given every six weeks, to meet the demand for 150 bottles that need to be distributed.
“We alternate between rice and pasta, and we make sure there is pasta sauce and tinned tomatoes to make meals with. This week we have soup, tinned meat, and fish to cater to all dietary needs. We make sure that there is always fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread,” says Attracta.
The main problem, she adds, is the need to support those who need it. “The people that come here get love from all of us, we don’t look upon them, we just try to help them the best that we can.”
Attracta stresses the need to support families further. “There are families with young children that have gone two weeks without hot water and heating, who have gone to get help and been given nothing.”
The Copenhagen Street Foodbank is only able to provide such support thanks to donations and the support they are kindly given by the local community. They are always in need of more volunteers and help from those who can provide it.
For any questions or enquiries contact: copenhagenstreetfoodbank@gmail.com.
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