“Leonard’s Lunchbox”, at St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green, is called after among the 3 dogs rescued by its creator, Grace Hui. “I work with a lot of animal-rescue centres, and I know how much they contribute to people’s mental well-being,” she said. “Giving up your pet because you can’t afford to feed it would feel like letting down your best friend.”
The brand-new family pet service follows the fast development of Bethnal Green Foodbank, established at the church in January 2020. It is now based in a redundant school, and supports about 900 individuals a week.
The Rector, the Revd Erin Clark, said that she had actually discovered foodbank consumers selecting family pet products over food on their own. “It’s quite a sacrifice to make,” she said. “It signified simply just how much animals suggest to individuals. Then I was approached by some parishioners who said they wished to establish something that might support pet-owners through the cost-of-living crisis.
“As far as I know, it’s the only foodbank specifically for animals. We do not realise how much people rely on their pets for their mental well-being. There is a lot of poverty around here, and other social issues; I think, for a lot of people, their pet is their lifeline — it is what gets them out; it is a big part of their well-being.”
The family pet foodbank in the church hall was introduced in December. Last week, on its busiest day yet, it had almost 30 customers. “It’s going really well,” Ms Clark said. “It’s run by local volunteers who provide all the stock. It started with dog and cat food, and we have since had requests for [food for] hamsters and guinea pigs. Bethnal Green has a very well-known tropical fish shop; so I am soon expecting requests for fish food.”
