A South London food drive is aiming to help struggling families in Lewisham during Ramadan.
The South London Food Drive, set up by local resident Mesa Rashid, is providing support for families struggling to make ends meet.
Legal professional Rashid started the cause in June 2024, initially providing food parcels to the homeless across London.
This extends to supporting individuals who are the victims of domestic violence, homelessness or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
With the religious holiday of Ramadan beginning, Rashid wants to set herself a challenge to expand the initiative to wider parts of South London.
Rashid also assists a school in Lewisham to provide pupils with uniforms and other essential goods necessary for learning.
She witnesses the harsh reality for families who cannot put food on the table or afford the universal right to eat. The initiative strives to take action against the major wealth inequality, rife in South London.
Rashid said: “I knew that I couldn’t sleep at night knowing…there were families that were struggling to eat.
“When I work now I know I have the food drive…knowing that I can give back a little bit every single day.
“I can’t stop it now.”
Yorkshire-born Rashid understands the importance of free school meals from her childhood experience, a necessity which many children are now unable to obtain due to ineligibility.
She discussed the childhood embarrassment and isolation some kids may feel for needing free school meals and the loss of dignity for parents who struggle to put food on the table for their children, highlighting the relief the food drive can offer.
Even when she’s at work, Rashid cannot take her mind off helping and empowering others.
The initiative gives hope to children and families in times where there is little hope.
During Ramadan, a period of reflection and giving back, the drive will distribute food parcels to struggling families in Beckenham and Lewisham.
Additionally, at the end of Ramadan, Rashid will hold a soup kitchen at a primary school in Lewisham for pupils and their families.
Rashid has plans to grow the food drive to reach more families living in food poverty, inviting volunteers to help out in any capacity to assist in the initiative’s long-term sustainability.
She funds the whole food drive so donations are important for survival so more families can receive support.
Supporters can donate to the Go Fund Me to support the South London Food Drive.
The work the food drive does will be documented on the South London Food Drive’s Instagram.
For those interested in volunteering, then Rashid can be contacted via her Instagram:
Picture Credit: Mesa Rashid
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