Diwali food hampers and what the cost of living means for dinners

What happened

On Saturday, around 300 volunteers packed food parcels at the RSRS Centre in Hockley, Birmingham, for people struggling with the rising cost of living. The event was the Diwali Basket Brigade, organised by The Diwali Foundation, and the BBC reports that it was the ninth time the charity has run it in the build-up to the festival.

The Foundation, which is based in Herefordshire, says more than 12% of UK households are experiencing food poverty. It works with about forty food banks and charities to reach vulnerable households, and says it has provided around 23,470 food hampers to date.

The parcels were taken to residents living in homes provided by Walsall Housing Group. Faye Shanahan from the group told the BBC: "It's really tough out there. Our customers are having a really hard time. The cost of living is not easing."

A London event was also held on Saturday, with similar events in Manchester and Leicester planned for Sunday. Organisers have set a target of 6,000 food hampers this year, which would top a 2025 record when more than 80,000 meals were provided, according to the BBC.

What it means for your dinners

Founder Deepak Parekh said the cost of living crisis "hasn't gone away", according to the BBC, and the housing group says the cost of living is not easing. Food costs are clearly still a worry for many people.

A volunteer, Clare Hannah, said that while packing bags you find yourself wondering what the recipients will make with what is in the parcel. That is a good question for any kitchen. When the ingredients on hand are limited, what matters is whether they add up to proper meals across the week.

It is worth being clear about what this story does and does not tell us. It does not give a price rise, a basket cost or a saving figure, so we will not put one on it.

Where Forkcast fits

If you are planning the week's dinners on a budget, one of the things you can control is what gets thrown away. Forkcast plans the week around shared ingredients, so less goes in the bin, and gives you one shopping list. A plan that uses what you buy is a sensible way to make the weekly shop go as far as it can.