The Diwali Basket Brigade, an initiative organised by The Diwali Foundation, operates as a voluntary campaign dedicated to providing food hampers to vulnerable families from various faiths and backgrounds.
These families, nominated by local charities and community organisations, are identified as those facing severe financial challenges, struggling to provide food for themselves and their children.
Given the ongoing cost of living crisis in 2023, the importance of assisting these families with food aid has become even more critical, a press release by the Diwali Foundation said.
Diwali, the Festival of Light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, inspired founder Deepak Parekh to establish the Diwali Basket Brigade in 2018. This initiative was created as a means for the community to give back during this auspicious time.
Parekh explained “Diwali is a time of celebration and happiness. But unfortunately, there are many families in our local communities who have little to cheer about, struggle to make ends meet and feel rejected. Diwali Basket Brigade is our effort to support them and to spread the Diwali message of hope, happiness and giving.”
Since its inception in 2018, the Diwali Basket Brigade has delivered over 8,000 food hampers. Originally centered in Birmingham, the effort has expanded to include London, Manchester, and, in 2023, Leicester as well.
The specially curated Diwali hampers contain sufficient healthy vegetarian food to nourish an entire family. The hampers are meticulously packed and delivered by a team of volunteers in collaboration with charity and food bank partners.
All activities are funded through donations from the community, totaling over £80,000 since the Diwali Basket Brigade's inception.
This year, the initiative aims to provide 4,000 hampers, a substantial increase from the 3,000 hampers distributed in 2022.
The primary packing and delivery events are scheduled for Saturday, November 4 in Birmingham, and London, and on Sunday, November 5 in Manchester and Leicester. These events precede the Diwali celebrations on Sunday, November 12, 2023.
