At Hornsey Foodbank, we are powered by our community. Whether you have time, resources, space, skills or expertise to share, your support makes a real difference, and there are many ways to get involved.
Every volunteer hour, food donation, financial gift and partnership with a local business helps us support people facing food insecurity with dignity and care.
Your support is more important now than ever before. It costs us approximately £2,000 per week to run the foodbank - all of which comes from donations and charitable funding. We buy a lot of the food we give out from supermarkets, and the rest comes from donations of food from individuals and partners like Food Bank Aid and Felix.
Hornsey Foodbank doesn’t receive any government funding, and our costs have gone up significantly since we started in 2020. This has happened for a few reasons. Food prices have gone up by over 30% since 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics. And we have seen the number of guests we support steadily increase - from a handful of regulars in the early days, to over 350 people on an average week, collecting for more than 1,200 people in our community.
At the same time, our income has been decreasing, as many people in our community are finding it harder to afford to give. Our partners’ income is also being squeezed, and some organisations that used to support us - for example, Bloody Good Period, who donated sanitary products - have had to close.
That’s where you come in - there are many different ways you can help us to continue to provide vital support.
Donate funds
Financial donations allow us to plan ahead and respond quickly to changing needs. Your contribution helps us:
Purchase essential items
Cover running costs
Maintain equipment and storage
Operate sustainably throughout the year
The best way to support us is to set up a monthly donation through Localgiving. This gives us a predictable income. It also allows us to see who is donating, so we can say thank you! You can set up a monthly donation by clicking here.
If you aren’t able to give monthly, even a one-off or small donation can make a big difference. We are very grateful for every single donation that we receive, and we put it to good use supporting neighbours with essential food and household items.
You can also fundraise for us! Some ideas include:
Hosting a yard or bake sale
Taking on a challenge - running, hiking, skydiving, climbing, jumping rope, whatever you fancy!
Hosting a street party / concert / event
Celebrating your “tin” (ten) year anniversary by asking friends and family to donate tins of food
Getting your community group / neighbours / book club / child’s school involved in fundraising
If you are doing any of these activities - or something creative we haven’t thought of! - and would like some or all of the proceeds to go to us, we'd love to hear from you. Please email wearehornsey@gmail.com to tell us about it.
You can also support us through Easyfundraising, which generates donations for the foodbank every time you shop online, at no cost to you. Over 8,000 retailers donate, including John Lewis & Partners, Sainsbury’s, BT, Expedia, Argos and more. Use this link to sign up, and the foodbank receives an extra donation as a referral!
Businesses can also fundraise for us - you could:
Display our QR code on tables and/or at the till
Host a fundraiser night
Add a donation to every bill
Act as a donation drop-off point
Donate a prize to our annual Christmas raffle
Sponsor us (for example, at events or local market stalls)
If you are a local business and would like to support us, please email wearehornsey@gmail.com to discuss.
Volunteer with us
Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. From sorting donations and packing deliveries to welcoming guests or helping with social media, there are many roles suited to different skills, availability and experience levels.
When we operate
Wednesdays (set-up day)
11.30am – 3.00pm and 5pm - 6pm.
Volunteers unpack deliveries, move crates (this can be heavy work), and set up the hall and tables ready for Thursday’s session.
Thursdays (foodbank service day)
10.30am – 1pm
Volunteers welcome and serve guests, and keep tables stocked.
1pm – 2pm
A separate team helps clear up after service, including carrying, packing things away and tidying.
Other ways to get involved
We are always interested in hearing from people who can’t volunteer at the foodbank on Wednesday or Thursday during working hours, but who would like to support in other ways, including becoming a trustee, joining a working group or helping with ad hoc projects.
Our board of trustees provides governance, oversight and strategic direction. The trustees ensure the organisation remains sustainable, effective and aligned with our mission and values.
Our working groups are involved with the day-to-day running of the foodbank. They also feed into the trustees’ decision-making. The working groups meet quarterly but carry out activities as needed. The working groups include safeguarding, operations, events and fundraising and communications and engagement.
We also regularly need support with ad hoc projects, including writing social media and blog copy, reaching out to local businesses and organisations for partnerships, sponsorships and fundraising opportunities, and applying for grant funding.
If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please email us at wearehornsey@gmail.com.
Donate food
Food donations help us keep our shelves stocked with essential items for individuals and families in need. Every item given locally stays local, supporting people in Hornsey and the surrounding area.
We aim to provide balanced, practical options that provide people with choice and meet everybody’s needs, including food, toiletries and cleaning products.
Drop-off locations
You can drop off donations at:
Lightfoot Rd, London N8 7JN
Wednesdays: 9.30am – 2.30pm and 5pm - 6pm
Thursdays: 9.30am – 10am and 1pm – 2pm
128 Crouch Hill, London N8 9DY
15 Park Rd, London N8 8TE
Donations can be left with the estate agents during their usual business hours.
Partner with us
We work closely with local businesses, schools, faith groups and community organisations. Partnering with us is a meaningful way to support your community, whether through fundraising, regular donations, volunteering days or long-term collaboration.
We could not operate without the generosity of our partners, and we are deeply grateful for their support. Some of our partners include Alexandra Palace Allotments, Shepherds Hill Allotments, Dunns Bakery, Peppermint Green and Sourdough Sophia.
If your organisation would like to partner with us, we would love to hear from you. Learn more here.
Every contribution matters
However you choose to support Hornsey Foodbank, whether it’s through volunteering, donating food, giving financially, fundraising for us, or partnering with us, you are helping to ensure that people facing hardship are treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
Together, we can continue to support our community when it’s needed most.