"this is our little way of bringing some light"
Hundreds of volunteers came together in Birmingham on October 31 to pack food parcels for families struggling with the rising cost of living, as the Diwali Basket Brigade returned for its ninth year.
Around 300 people attended the event at the RSRS Centre in Hockley, organised by The Diwali Foundation, to prepare food hampers for vulnerable households in the run-up to Diwali.
The annual initiative brings community volunteers from a variety of backgrounds together to help families facing financial hardship, with organisers hoping to spread some light and hope during a challenging time.
Deepak Parekh, founder of the initiative, said:
“[The] cost of living crisis hasn’t gone away… but Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness, and this is our little way of bringing some light and some hope into the families that need it most.”
The Diwali Foundation, which is based in Herefordshire, said more than 12% of UK households are experiencing food poverty.
The charity works with around 40 food banks and other organisations to reach vulnerable households across the country. It said it has provided approximately 23,470 food hampers to people in need to date.
For volunteers, the event offered an opportunity to reflect on the difference a food parcel could make to a family facing hardship.
Clare Hannah said: “You’re thinking about, ‘Oh I wonder what they’re going to make with this’. And the fact that this is all that they’ve got, for some people.”
The completed parcels were transported from Hockley to residents living in homes provided by Walsall Housing Group (WHG).
Faye Shanahan, from WHG, said: “It’s really tough out there. Our customers are having a really hard time. The cost of living is not easing.
“Events like this today are really, really fantastic. It makes an absolutely fantastic difference to our customers.”
Among those receiving a parcel was resident John Whiting, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday.
Describing the food hamper as “unbelievable”, he said:
“There are a lot of people out there that’ve got nothing.”
“The food will be tremendous, thank you.”
The Birmingham event was one of several Diwali Basket Brigade activities taking place across the UK, with a London event also held on Saturday and similar initiatives planned in Manchester and Leicester on November 1.
Organisers have set a target of providing 6,000 food hampers this year, building on the charity’s efforts in 2025, when more than 80,000 meals were provided.
