Who are we?
The Emergency Food Network is a network of projects helping people access food across Lewes District. We are the food banks, community supermarkets, and food waste hubs that work directly with households experiencing food insecurity in Newhaven, Lewes, Peacehaven, Seaford and rural areas. As projects on the frontlines of the 'cost of living crisis', we work with Lewes District Council, East Sussex County Council, and many other community organisations to coordinate and improve the support available to local people.
Since 2021, emergency food network projects have witnessed an increase of 30-40% in their membership. The increase in demand, soaring food prices and a decrease in donations have left many projects struggling to make ends meet.
If you are in the position to do so, we're asking for small donations which can have a big impact on those in our communities worried about where their next meal will come from.
Below is a quote from a resident of Lewes District about the psychological impacts of relying on food support:
Our Impact
The Emergency Food Network (EFN) offers support to projects working on the frontline of the Cost-of-Living Crisis and reliant on volunteers. Not only are community food projects providing a vital lifeline in the form of food, they are often safe community spaces that people have become reliant on when experiencing other crises such as mental health, loneliness, isolation.
The EFN advocates for change, raises awareness and challenges misconceptions about poverty. The EFN sits within the wider work of Lewes District Food Partnership, which is working to ensure that people are able to ask for help and are treated with dignity when they do so. Local citizens with experience of financial hardship are also involved in projects like Feeling the Pinch and Pinch Points, which amplify the voices of local residents to ensure decision-makers are hearing directly from the people most impacted.
The Alliance for Dignified Food Support in turn supports local and national food projects to provide as dignified a welcome as possible for people accessing emergency food.
Why are we crowdfunding?
Last year we raised almost £12,000 at Christmas for the community food projects in the Emergency Food Network thanks to the generosity of our communities and match-funding by Enjoolata Foundation and East Sussex County Council.
Over the last year, projects have faced their toughest year yet, with several projects having to temporarily pause their membership. Any contributions that you make will go directly to projects supporting those who are struggling in our community, and help them to carry on their vital work.
How we’ll spend the money raised
Money raised will be divided between the projects in the Emergency Food Network which can be seen here. We have secured matchfunding of up to £5000 from the Enjoolata Foundation, meaning that your donation will be doubled in size, going even further.
Please be aware that Crowdfunder will automatically ask for an additional donation to their page. You can select the value of this before you complete your donation.