Vulnerable Londoners need your help to get through this crisis

Things are going to get worse before they get better, but the selflessness shown by the British people in recent days shows we are truly pulling together to beat this

A community food hub has been set up in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Daniel Hambury/stellapicsltd)

The altruism of the British people in recent days has been a beacon of hope amid the darkness of coronavirus. We are truly pulling together to deal with this unprecedented crisis. The public are overwhelmingly staying at home to save lives. We must continue to do so for as long as required.

Nearly a million people have signed up as NHS volunteers to support our health workers and vulnerable people through this crisis. In London, many are volunteering this week to support the new Nightingale Hospital at the ExCeL centre in Docklands. We’ve seen the #viralkindness postcards that offer support being put through letterboxes across the country. And many more small acts of kindness have happened without fanfare, with neighbours giving each other a helping hand.

In this inspiring context, I want to appeal to Londoners to help support those at risk of food poverty in the capital – just as The Independent and the Evening Standard are doing with their campaign.

Many food banks have been forced to close, or consider closing, because of a shortage of food, money and volunteers. More than 400,000 children and 1.5 million adults in London lived in food insecurity before this crisis, and many rely on food banks every day. Sadly, these numbers will only increase as a result of coronavirus – and life will get even harder for those already in that situation.

I am especially concerned about the many Londoners not in the “shielded” category, but who are struggling to feed themselves or their families. We can all play a part to alleviate this hunger. You can donate spare food at a series of hubs being set up across the city. If you can afford to, you can donate money directly to help keep the food banks open. And if you are fit and healthy, you can volunteer your much-needed time.

Supermarkets have a vital role to play. Morrisons today donated £10m of groceries by keeping its food-making sites open for an extra hour a day. I urge others to follow suit.

And the government can do more, by establishing a new task force, led by a minister, to deliver the right package of food and financial assistance to all vulnerable groups.

I want to be honest — things are going to get worse before they get better. But we can find huge hope in the way we are all helping those in need. We must stick at it, because winning this fight will take everything we’ve got.

Sadiq Khan is Mayor of London.

To donate to the campaign, visit virginmoneygiving.com