Hunger Inc.: Building Solidarity Beyond the Food Bank

by Kayleigh Garthwaite, Kerry Hudson (Foreword)

Since 2020, we have seen a huge increase in the demand for charitable food aid, due to multiple political and economic crises. Initially seen as an emergency measure, corporate-backed food aid programs are now entrenched 'solutions' to hunger. But who really benefits from them?



Kayleigh Garthwaite travelled across Britain, North America and Europe, working with food banks, co-ops, urban farms and food justice organisations. She documents the limitations of these programs, and how institutionalising charitable food aid absolves governments of their responsibility to ensure that people have a right to food.

As hunger and inequality continue to rise within advanced capitalist countries, this issue is more urgent than ever.



Kayleigh Garthwaite proposes radical key policies for governments and explores alternative community-led responses grounded in solidarity, not charity, to end the need for food aid before the indignity of food banks becomes completely normalised.

192 pages, Paperback

Published December 20, 2025

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kayleigh offers a refreshing and compelling perspective that challenges the charitable food aid model and status quo. Her extensive research and thoughtful weaving of intersectional issues makes this book difficult to put down.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important points made about addressing the systemic sources of food insecurity — very much hope these ideas become the mainstream