The Covid-19 pandemic, with its lock-downs and shielding of the vulnerable, raised concerns about how the housebound, and those losing jobs or income, would be able to put food on the table. A group of parishioners rose to the challenge and obtained food vouchers from Caritas and funding from the London Borough of Islington. From home deliveries of vouchers and food to the housebound, the foodbank rapidly expanded by January 2021 to giving out non-perishable foods, toiletries and household cleaning items every two weeks on a Saturday morning. Starting in the open air space between the Church and the Presbytery, which also houses the store, the foodbank moved into the Parish Centre in October 2022. By mid-2023, 476 families or single people had registered – with over 900 adults and 800 children.
As Covid subsided, the cost of living increased and we realised that food insecurity was worsening, not improving. The Foodbank decided to try to continue its operations, and, with encouragement from Caritas, to address social exclusion in our community.