Hundreds of Diwali hampers help feed those in need

The leader of Leicester's team, Vina Parekh, said they aimed to make 10% more hampers this year

Volunteers in Leicester have provided hundreds of food hampers to vulnerable families as part of an annual drive coinciding with Diwali.

The Diwali Basket Brigade project was formed in 2018 and in that time has helped feed 57,000 people nationally.

In Leicester, the team works with six charities to distribute hampers.

Vina Parekh, the project's leader in Leicester, said each hamper can feed a family of four, with around 15 meals' worth of food.

The project is run entirely by volunteers, with no paid roles in the organisation

The baskets have non-perishable food such as pasta, cereal, and rice; and other items like chocolate and toothpaste.

They also feature Diwali cards, which are handmade by children in India before being shipped to the UK.

It makes the project as “wholesome as possible”, according to Ms Parekh, because it helps pay for their education back in their home country.

The spirit of Diwali, bringing hope and helping each other, is the driving force behind the initiative, Ms Parekh added.

She said: “The feedback we’ve have from previous years is how well they’ve been received... that somebody, somewhere, is thinking of them, and wanting to help and support them.

“We want these recipients to feel included as part of all faiths and communities.”

Each hamper includes common items like rice, pasta, toothpaste and chocolate

The latest hampers were packaged by more than 80 volunteers on 27 October at the Darji Community Centre in Vicarage Lane.

The group packaged 550 hampers.

These were then given to the Diwali Basket Brigade's six partners for distribution, which includes food banks, support services and community centres.

Lesley Green, chair of Oadby Foodbank, one of the partners, said the project was “amazing” at helping those struggling to make ends meet.

The foodbank has worked with the Diwali Basket Brigade for two years, and they receive different hampers to suit different dietary needs.

“They’ve done anything we asked them to do. Simple things like that make it a lot easier for us,” Ms Green added.