La’s story

Bereaved and with no income

La Chi-Cuong quit his job as a chef and spent six years as a carer for his poorly mother.

When she died five months ago, her benefits stopped abruptly and so did his income as her carer.  He was left with nothing to survive on.

He said: “I couldn’t afford anything – food, gas, electricity – nothing. I’ve been living like this for months.”

Hackney Foodbank has been a lifeline for La – providing emergency food parcels while he sorts out benefits.

He added: “The job centre is sending me for English lessons, at 65 I’m nearly at retirement age so it’s difficult to find work. Finally, my benefits are getting sorted so I won’t need to come to the food bank any more.

“Before I came to the food bank, I was hungry and, in the winter, I couldn’t afford to put the heating on. I’m so thankful for their help.”

La, who moved to the UK from Vietnam when he was 20, was referred to Hackney Foodbank by the Hoxton Trust.

The rising cost of living has seen many more people referred to Hackney Foodbank in recent months. This June, the charity provided more than double the number of emergency food parcels than in the same month last year.

The charity runs six distribution centres across Hackney and is currently feeding around 650 people per month.

To donate, visit www.hackney.foodbank.org.uk