The baskets are back, but this time, they’re even more vital. Thanks to BanktheFood, the traditional Harvest Festival has returned from 1 to 14 October, not just as a celebration of the season but as a powerful community movement to fight hunger and help local families in crisis.
As food banks report rising demand and deepening hardship in the community, BanktheFood has launched a campaign calling on schools, faith groups, and residents to bring back the harvest for Food Bank Fortnight — a modern revival of the age-old tradition of giving thanks through giving back.
From school assemblies and church collections to supermarket drop-offs and donation drives, Food Bank Fortnight, the revived Harvest Festival, will take place from 1–14 October. The festival will focus on increasing food donations to the food bank during one of the toughest periods for vulnerable households.
To get involved, download the BanktheFood app, connect with your local food bank, host a Harvest collection at your school, workplace, or community group, and give what’s needed. The campaign encourages everyone to contribute what they can — whether that’s a bag of pasta, a crate of canned goods, or a few hours volunteering.
Cas Fransis from Southend Foodbank, said: “At Southend Foodbank we continue to see high levels of people needing a 3-day emergency food parcel. We’ve already given out over 12,000 parcels this year, and our busiest season is imminent. This continued need, combined with food prices going up and up, means we are having to spend £10,000 each month on food, just to make up basic parcels. Getting food donations into the Foodbank has never been harder, or more important, than it is now for us.
“This is where the BanktheFood app becomes such an important asset to us and our donors. The app tells shoppers our most urgent food needs, as well as serving as a reminder to our donors not to forget the work we do in the community, week in, week out. The app becomes a lifeline to the continued running of the Foodbank – if we don’t receive food donations, we can’t meet the need we are seeing, and this could be disastrous for many, many families across Southend City and the Rochford District.”
Emma Spring, Co-founder of the charity BanktheFood based in Burnham-on-Crouch, added: “Together, we can make sure everyone has enough on their table this October and beyond. Our free BanktheFood app will connect you with your nearest food bank and provide a list of what they need most to help the community. It will even ping you a reminder as you go to the supermarket.”
Food Bank Fortnight is a community-wide food and donation drive that runs from 1–14 October 2025. To get involved: www.bankthefood.com
