Help the Hungry: Campaign teams up with Neasden Temple to tackle hunger over Diwali

Festival of light sees volunteers from The Felix Project and Neasden Temple band together to tackle hunger, Abbianca Makoni reports

The Felix Project make a delivery to the Neasden Temple which is received by staff and volunteers (Nigel Howard)

The Independent’s Help the Hungry campaign has delivered more than 40,000 meals to people on the brink of hunger in time for Diwali through our appeal partner, The Felix Project, after joining forces with northwest London’s Neasden Temple.

The festival of light, which would ordinarily see Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the country gather with their loved ones, was marred by separation after the UK’s surging coronavirus cases led to its second national lockdown.

But in collaboration with the temple, our appeal’s mission to deliver surplus nutritious food to those in need saw a team of volunteers making deliveries each day across the five-day celebration.

The service saw those from both the Felix project and Neasden Temple give up their time to help tackle hunger among elderly people in need and those living with sickness and disability, as well as London families struggling with food poverty as a result of the pandemic.

It comes as The Independent’s campaign to tackle hunger in communities across the UK strives to feed more than a thousand people a day in the run up to Christmas – distributing free hot meals to the vulnerable and the organisations that help them.

Head Sadhu of the Neasden Temple, Swami Yogvivekdas, said: “This is a very difficult time of year for so many, and their challenges are compounded by the impact of the ongoing pandemic.

“We are thrilled to help deliver food across London to those who need it the most – and in doing so, share the spirit and values of Diwali.”

Mark Curtin, CEO of the Felix project, added: “London has a rich diversity of communities and The Felix Project aims to serve them all.

“Working with our brilliant friends from Neasden Temple is just one way The Felix Project strives to reach everyone who may be at risk of hunger and malnutrition, and we hope they had a very happy Diwali.”

This November and December we will be delivering food directly to 1,000 people a day through our partner With Compassion. Please donate here to help us do all we can to ensure no one goes hungry this Christmas.