Laura Jarman, Bankueteer

Whether they admit it or not, almost everyone likes to treat someone special for Valentine’s Day [Gal-entine’s / Pal-entine’s / insert quirky alternative here].

How about sharing the love with your local food bank this year?

Perhaps you're wondering what an over-commercialised, romantic celebration has got to do with the nation’s growing food insecurity crisis...

Well - it’s no secret that hunger is now a serious problem in the UK, with millions of people unable to feed themselves and their families. But what’s often overlooked is that people struggling to afford food are also more at risk of social isolation and loneliness.

While loneliness has many causes, stats show that people living in food poverty are more likely to miss out on important social interactions. The sort of exchanges that play an important role in making us feel appreciated… valued... even loved.

Hearts > Hunger

Which is why here at Bankuet we’re a (not so) secret admirer of the unrelenting efforts of the UK’s expanding network of food banks. These welcoming community spaces provide more than just food. They build relationships. They signpost to local support services. They simply take notice.

Providing a food parcel is only a small part of the story…

“Someone would say ‘Ok, do you want a cup of tea?’ And then they just let me relax for a bit. I just wanna say it’s like heaven. It’s a good place that food bank. Definitely a good place. The people that go there don’t have to worry they’re being judged.  There’s other people doing the same thing, we’re all in the same situation at the moment." - Richard*

Love locked down

Food poverty and loneliness are both issues that have intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, Britain hit its highest levels of pandemic loneliness in November, with an enormous 4.2 million people admitting they were ‘always or often lonely’.

And with lockdown measures continuing to form a barrier between friends, family and loved ones, loneliness is expected to have millions more in its grip this Valentine’s Day.

Care at a click

Bankuet makes it simple, quick and impactful to support those in crisis - at the click of a button. We work directly with UK food banks to turn generous online donations into the items they need, delivered when they need them. Simply head to bankuet.co.uk/givenow, select your bundle and either opt for a specific food bank or let Bankuet identify which food bank(s) need help most that month.

So, before you treat yourself to that romantic ready-meal for one this weekend… How about giving a Bankuet bundle to help keep food banks stocked this Valentine’s Day?

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Let's tackle hunger together

You know what to do.

Give food. Give love.

*Name changed for privacy

Let's tackle hunger together. Give a Bankuet bundle and give more than just food this Valentine's Day.