THE traditional Harvest Festival is making a heartfelt return in Monmouth from October 1 to 14 not just as a celebration of the season but as a powerful community movement to fight hunger and help local families in crisis.

As food banks report rising demand and deepening hardship in the community, BanktheFood has launched to bring back the harvest for Food Bank Fortnight. It is a modern revival of the age-old tradition of giving thanks through giving back.

From school assemblies and church collections to supermarket drop-offs and donation drives, Food Bank Fortnight, the revived Harvest Festival will be back. The festival will focus on increasing food donations to the food bank during one of the toughest periods for vulnerable households.

Monmouth and District Food bank is taking part in the campaign. Food bank Manager, Martin Howlett, said: “We are excited to partner with BanktheFood’s harvest food donation drive from October 1 to 14. As the food bank enters its busiest autumn/ winter period, it is vitally important that we receive food donations from our community so we can help those in crisis.

“Public food donations to Monmouth’s food bank have fallen by 55 percent in three years, meaning we had to buy food in to help those in need last autumn/winter.

Emma Spring, Co-founder of the charity BanktheFood, added: “Together, we can make sure everyone has enough on their table this October and beyond. Our free BanktheFood app will connect you with your nearest food bank and provide a list of what they need most to help the community. It will even ping you a reminder to go to the supermarket.”

Food Bank Fortnight is a community-wide food and donating drive that runs from October 1-14.

You can get involved here: www.bankthefood.com