Volunteers have sprung into action all over the city to meet the demand from vulnerable residents that need access to food.
Within days, the emergency food network that exists across the city started to organise an extensive approach to supporting vulnerable people in the city that needed access to food.
This network of community projects, that includes the 21 food banks that were already in operation supporting vulnerable people and the 21 new food projects that have joined this effort due to the Covid-19 pandemic, exists so that no-one in Brighton & Hove will go hungry.
Organised and run almost solely by volunteers, these projects have being supplying food parcels and hot meals to vulnerable residents that aren’t able to access food themselves.
Bulk food deliveries are being sent to a food distribution hub, which is then being sorted and distributed across the city depending on need.
Food is being distributed across the city, to food hubs and vulnerable houses directly, at a staggering level.
4,000 food parcels and 2,400 hot meals were sent out last week alone.
This is in no small part down to the food distribution network set up with help from our partners the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership that set up the food network and a fundraising campaign, back in March, to raise money to bulk buy food for food projects in the city.
The part volunteers are playing in this emergency food network is invaluable, from the distribution of flyers, to sorting and delivering food parcels for those that need it most and keeping in touch afterwards, truly is a testament to Brighton & Hove.
Councillor Anne Pissaridou, lead councillor for food, said: "The community response to this pandemic has been impressive, and the continuing efforts by volunteers over the last couple of months has been quite remarkable .
"People who are continuing to put vulnerable residents first, when they may be experiencing their own hardship, is truly staggering and I can only imagine some of the sacrifices they are making to keep this city going.
"I am so proud of my community and city. I am grateful to all the people that continue to look after others day after day. I would also personally like to thank each and every one of you, you are truly inspirational.“
If you are able to, you can donate to the fundraising campaign, set up by the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.
You can find more information on the Food Partnership’s webpage where they have a Coronavirus update, including how to access food, volunteer your time and also a list of local retailers offering delivery option.
You can also register yourself or on behalf as a vulnerable resident, as well as seeing more information around food in the city on our Coronavirus section of our website.
