Lewes volunteers help tackle nightmare of food poverty on Hallowe’en

A coalition of volunteers from across Lewes turned out on Hallowe’en to tackle the nightmare of food poverty and encourage Saturday shoppers to donate urgently needed tins, packets, cartons, bottles and fresh food for the local foodbanks.
By Julia Northcott
Published 4th Nov 2020, 11:11 BST
Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from the Depot cinema SUS-200411-104414001Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from the Depot cinema SUS-200411-104414001
Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from the Depot cinema SUS-200411-104414001

Outside the three Lewes supermarkets of Aldi, Tesco and Waitrose, for a total of 14 hours (two hours in torrential rain), 228 volunteers came to help.

They comprised members from seven Lewes sports clubs, six Bonfire societies, six faith groups, three bands, two parents’ associations, chefs, a cinema, a yoga class, a book group, a choir, individual helpers, secret shoppers, loaders, drivers and the Foodbank’s liaison team.

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Each helper carried out just one hour’s socially-distanced shift.

Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from the Friends of South Malling SUS-200411-104536001Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from the Friends of South Malling SUS-200411-104536001
Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from the Friends of South Malling SUS-200411-104536001

Organiser Sophie Isachsen said: “Many are already asking when the next collection will be, such is their energy and commitment to help feed the community through the coronavirus crisis. This is the fifth of their all-day collections and they appear unstoppable.”

The successful collection of 5,661 items of food and household goods was described by pioneer of this unique initiative, Mark Perryman as: “A real record breaker.

“It’s the first time we’ve had six bonfire societies help us, the first time with a cinematic shift and a yoga shift too, the first time to beat 5,000 items.

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“But most important is the record-breaking coalition right across Lewes society, from Bonfire to churches, rugby to tennis clubs, Labour to Lib Dems and Greens, folk and rock bands, Aldi, Tesco and Waitrose, and all points in between, standing firmly together against anyone in our town going hungry.”

Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from South Malling. SUS-200411-104934001Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from South Malling. SUS-200411-104934001
Lewes Hallowe'en Foodbank collections. Foodbank volunteers from South Malling. SUS-200411-104934001

By Monday morning, just 48 hours later, all 5,661 items had been counted, sorted and delivered to the food banks of Fitzjohns, Landport and Malling.

Asked what’s next, Mark Perryman said: “Our Christmas collection is coming up.

“Make sure you’re out shopping on Saturday December 12 as that collection will be even more special.

“And with a second lockdown, it’ll be needed more than ever before.”

PICTURES BY NIGEL FRENCH @nigelfrenchphoto

Related topics:BonfireWaitroseTescoAldi