Mon 28/09/20

LATEST UPDATE DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

• Food Hub operating as Wednesday and Saturday delivery service to clients' homes

• Open to receive food donations this Wednesday morning (30th Sept) and Saturday 3rd Oct

• Donation baskets at Waitrose Sanderstead, Sainsbury's Warlingham, Co-op Hamsey Green

• Also Londis Coulsdon, Sainsbury's Local Purley - plus wheelie bin at St Mark's Woodcote

• Fish/meat paste, tinned tomatoes and cooked meat top list of items most needed in October

• Thank you so much to everyone for the considerable donations we continue to receive

    

For the foreseeable future, the Food Hub is operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays as a home delivery service of pre-packed food parcels to clients and families in need referred to us by our Ticket Partners and living in the CR2 (South Croydon), CR5 (Coulsdon), CR8 (Purley) and CR0 4 (Waddon) postcode areas. Other food banks are serving clients living in other parts of the Borough of Croydon.

In April, the first month of the new service, food parcels were provided to 558 clients and family members; at three meals a day for three days for each person, that's a total of just over 5,000 meals. In May we provided parcels to 510 clients/family members, equivalent to nearly 4,600 meals; in June to 504 clients/family members = just over 4,530 meals; in July to 415 clients/family members = 3,735 meals; and in August to 361 clients/family members = 3,249 meals, taking us past 195,000 meals overall since we opened in 2013.

In total in the eight months from January-August 33,156 meals were provided to clients and family members struggling at this time - more than for the whole of 2019.

So far in September we have provided food parcels to 362 clients and family members = 3,258 meals...taking us past 200,000 meals overall since we opened in 2013.

Thank you to all our volunteers involved in the sorting of food donations and the packing and delivery of the food parcels, and to the MANY people who have kindly brought in donations of food and money, including Elizabeth from Croydon Communities Consortium who has collected donations from local residents via Nextdoor, and Rebecca and Helen who have organised collections from their neighbours in Redford Avenue, Coulsdon, and Furze Lane, Purley.

We also thank Waitrose Coulsdon, Londis Coulsdon and Sainsbury's Local Purley for generous donations of fresh food, and are grateful too to everyone who has placed donations in our collection baskets at Waitrose Sanderstead, Sainsbury's Warlingham, Co-op Hamsey Green, Londis Coulsdon and Sainsbury's Local Purley, and the wheelie bin at St Mark's Church Woodcote. Thank you to Rev Fiona Weaver and other volunteers who bring these donations to us, and those making bulk food purchases at stores using money donations we receive.

PLEASE NOTE that we are open for food donations again this Wednesday morning (30th September) and then Saturday morning 3rd October, both 10.00am-12.00noon, at Purley United Reformed Church, 906 Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2LN (next to Purley Hospital). Please bring donations to the door at the end of the roadway running along the left side of the church building.

Jars of fish paste and meat paste, tinned tomatoes, tins of chicken and other cooked meat, and children's chocolate treats are top of the list of items most needed for our clients in October. Tinned fruit, tins of sweetcorn and carrots, jars of pasta sauce and cartons of long life whole milk are also listed, together with three non-food items: washing tablets, toothpaste and unisex deodorant. For the list in full, please click here.

We continue to send warmest wishes at this time to our clients and their families and also to all our supporters and volunteers to stay well and keep safe.

 

WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE.

We are a local independent food bank set up by Purley & Kenley Churches Together.

 

How can I help?

If you are looking for a way to serve people in need in the local area, this is a great opportunity. We are an organisation run by volunteers from the local churches and community and would love for you to be involved.

 

How can I get help?

A time of crisis can happen to anyone, at any time. Should you be in need of help yourself, we are here to support you and your family - and we will continue to be here for as long as we are needed.

 

LATEST NEWS

Mon 28/09/20

October's most-needed list is headed by fish/meat paste, tomatoes and cooked meat

Jars of fish paste and meat paste, tinned tomatoes, tins of cooked meat such as chicken, and children's chocolate treats head the list of items most needed for our clients in October. Also listed are tinned fruit, tins of sweetcorn and carrots, jars of pasta sauce and cartons of long life whole milk, together with three non-food items: washing tablets, toothpaste and unisex deodorant. The full list is available here. Please bring donations to Purley United Reformed Church in Brighton Road, Purley, any Wednesday or Saturday morning, between 10.00am-12.00noon. Thank you very much.

 

Wed 23/09/20

We pass landmark of providing 200,000 meals for people in crisis since 2013

Today at the Food Hub we provided our 200,000th meal for clients and their families since we opened in January 2013. Our first 100,000 meals took 4 years and 11 months; the second 100,000 took 2 years and 9 months. Since 2013, 3,273 clients have been referred to us for food parcels a total of 9,440 times and we have provided food for 22,243 people = 200,187 meals. We are so grateful to all the churches, schools, businesses, organisations, families and individuals who kindly donate food and toiletries, etc - and our volunteers who sort and date-stamp everything, pack the parcels and (currently) deliver them to our clients' homes.

 

Wed 23/09/20

Wilson's delivers a minibus full of food and other donations

Big thanks to the students and families and the staff of Wilson's School, Wallington, for collecting more than a dozen crates full of food and other items and delivering them to us at Purley United Reformed Church today...

 

Fri 18/09/20

Annual Report pays tribute to Food Hub volunteers with thanks too to all of our donors

The Food Hub's Annual Report for 2019/2020 is available here. Trevor Jones, the Food Hub Chair, says: "On behalf of the Trustees and Management Committee, I wish to thank all of our volunteers, new and old, who have helped in any way both before and during the pandemic. New volunteers came from our member churches and from the community and I hope we will be able to bring them fully into the Food Hub fold."

The report also gives enormous thanks to everyone who supports the Food Hub in any way, big or small, through donating time, food and money and keeping the clients, volunteers, Trustees and Management Committee in your thoughts and prayers. Among our donors and supporters, we warmly thank local churches, schools, WI and Rotary, businesses, uniformed organisations and countless families and individuals.

 

Fri 18/09/20

Children's chocolate treats are added to our list of items needed in September

Chocolate treats for the children of the Food Hub's clients are a mid-month addition to our September food list. Also, kindly note that the instant hot chocolate we are requesting needs to be, please, the type that only requires water to be added. You can see the updated list here. Thank you!

 

Thu 03/09/20

Food bank volunteers are 'truly unsung heroes', says Mayor of Croydon

The Mayor of Croydon, Cllr Maddie Henson, visited Purley Food Hub yesterday (Wed) after also visiting Croydon Food Bank and Croydon Refugee Day Centre (CRDC). She tweeted afterwards: "I've started looking at food banks/resources provided by organisations such as CRDC, Purley Food Hub and Praise Gate UK (Croydon Food Bank) and been humbled by the tremendous volunteer work and individuals literally daily changing people's lives during hardship. They are truly unsung heroes." The Mayor is pictured (far left) with Food Hub volunteers (left to right) Michele, Trevor, Betty and Sally.

 

Tue 01/09/20

Hot chocolate, honey and tinned carrots and meat are most needed in September

Instant hot chocolate, tinned carrots and sweetcorn, small 500g bags of sugar and tinned meat are the items required most for clients in September. Jars of honey and peanut butter and cartons of long life fruit juice are also needed, along with non-food items shampoo, unisex deodorant and bars of soap. For the full list, please click here. We are open to receive donations each Wednesday and Saturday morning, from 10.00am-12.00midday, at Purley United Reformed Church, next to Purley Hospital. Thank you!

 

Sat 29/08/20

Busiest ever August takes us past 30,000 meals so far in 2020

Although, in terms of meals provided, August was less busy than the previous five months since the coronavirus crisis began in March, it was nevertheless our busiest ever August. Altogether, 3,249 meals were provided to clients and family members in need during August - taking us past, after eight months of 2020, the 30,000 meals provided in the whole of 2019.

 

Thu 27/08/20

Client's grateful sister sends us £100 'thank-you' food donation from Asda

Generous donations of food and money continue to be received from Food Hub friends and supporters from the churches, local community, shops and businesses, etc, and very many individuals and families. One donation was from the grateful sister of a man who received a food parcel earlier during lockdown; she arranged for a 'thank-you' delivery to be sent from Asda with over £100 worth of food...

 

Sat 01/08/20

Sugar, custard and tinned carrots, potatoes and chicken head August food list

Small 500g bags of sugar, tinned and packet custard, tinned vegetables especially carrots and sweetcorn, tinned and packet potatoes and tins of chicken are at the top of our list of items needed for clients in August. Jars of peanut butter and meat/fish paste, bottles of squash, cartons of long life fruit juice and whole milk, and tinned fruit and pulses are also listed. Non-food items are bottles of shampoo and unisex deodorant. Please click here for the full list. Donations can be brought please to Purley United Reformed Church (next to Purley Hospital) any Wednesday or Saturday morning from 10.00am-12.00noon. Thank you for your support.

 

Fri 31/07/20

July was the sixth busiest month since the Food Hub began

July's 3,735 meals for 415 hard-pressed clients and family members was the sixth highest monthly total since the Food Hub started in 2013. Though less than in the previous four months of the pandemic period, it took the overall total for the first seven months of 2020 to close to 30,000 meals, just under 600 less than for the whole of 2019. Once again we warmly thank each and every one of our friends and supporters from the churches, local community, shops and businesses (such as Yodel in Mitcham) and very many individuals and families for your continued donations of food and money during this time.

 

Wed 29/07/20

Reedham Park School children vote to give us their final fund raising

The head teacher of Reedham Park School brought us a donation of £200 in coins and notes from the pupils who voted for their most recent fund raising to come to the Food Hub. Sadly for the children and staff, the school closed this month because of falling pupil numbers and the uncertainties caused by coronavirus. Thank you Reedham Park, we greatly appreciate your generous act.

 

Thu 23/07/20

Salli makes masks which Laura sells to buy £250 worth of food

Mother and daughter volunteers Salli and Laura have raised £250 for the Food Hub. Salli explains: 'I made a few Covid-19 masks/face coverings, well rather a lot really, which Laura has sold to friends and colleagues. The total raised so far is over £250 and Laura has bought that amount of food for the Food Hub as a gift from us both.' Thank you very much indeed, Salli and Laura. And our thanks too to the residents and staff of Abbeyfield Sanderstead for a donation of £30 from a puppet show held at their house.

 

Sat 18/07/20

THANK YOU x 3!!!

We give grateful thanks to staff at Barclays Bank in North End, Croydon, and to members of His Life Church based at Harris Academy Purley for their first donations of food and toiletries to the Food Hub...and to the manager and staff at Hamsey Green Co-op, 351 Limpsfield Road, South Croydon, for reinstating a collection basket for customers' donations. Thank you all!

 

Thu 16/07/20

Sugar, carrots, pulses, milk and shampoo added to July's most needed list

Small 500g bags of sugar, tins of carrots and sweetcorn, tinned pulses such as kidney beans and lentils and cartons of long life whole milk have been added to the list of items most needed for our clients in July. Also added are shampoo and unisex deodorant. For the full updated list, please click here.

 

Wed 01/07/20

Tins of potatoes, fruit and cooked meat are top of the 'wanted' list for July

Tinned and packet potatoes, tinned fruit and tins of cooked meat such as chicken head the list of items we are in most need of this month. Also on our July food list are packets of instant custard, tins of rice pudding, bottles of squash and cartons of long life fruit juice, and jars of meat/fish paste, peanut butter, jam and honey, along with children's chocolate treats. Non-food items listed include toothpaste, shower gel and toilet rolls. Please bring donations to Purley United Reformed Church next to Purley Hospital in Brighton Road any Saturday or Wednesday morning between 10.00am-12.00noon - come to the door at the end of the roadway running along the left side of the church. Thank you so much!

 

Tue 30/06/20

26,000 meals provided to clients and their families in the first half of 2020

June saw the Food Hub deliver food parcels to 504 clients and family members struggling at this time. With three meals a day for three days for each person in the household, that's a total of 4,536 meals provided during the month to clients/families in Purley, Coulsdon, South Croydon and Waddon. It takes this year's January-June meals total to 26,145, nearly double 2019's corresponding total of 13,941 meals. It also takes us past 190,000 meals overall since the Food Hub opened in 2013.

 

Fri 19/06/20

Wheelie bin installed at St Mark's Church for food donations

A big yellow wheelie bin is now installed at St Mark's Church, Woodcote, to receive food donations for the Food Hub. It has been provided by CCMA (Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid) and will be available for donations while St Mark's is open from 9.00am-4.00pm daily. Thank you to the Church Hill area Covid-19 Mutual Aid WhatsApp group for your support with donations, and to the Vicar, Rev Fiona Weaver (pictured), for delivering the donations to us at Purley United Reformed Church.

 

Thu 18/06/20

Sugar, fruit juice and bottles of squash are added to updated June food list

Small 500g bags of sugar, cartons of longlife fruit juice and bottles of squash have been added to our updated list of items most needed in June. These are alongside tins of cooked meat such as chicken, tinned ready meat meals, tins of fruit and rice pudding and packets of instant custard. Also listed are jars of jam, honey and savoury spreads and tinned and packet potatoes. Non-food items most required are toilet rolls, shower gel, washing tablets/capsules and small washing up liquid. Donations can be brought to Purley United Reformed Church, next to Purley Hospital, each Wednesday and Saturday morning between 10.00am-12.00noon. Thank you everyone.

 

Mon 15/06/20

Timely delivery from Yodel to the Food Hub

We were pleased to receive a delivery of five boxes of food items from Yodel in Mitcham on Saturday morning following a collection among the depot's drivers and warehouse staff. Thank yoooooo, Yodel!

 

Tue 02/06/20

Powerful support from YOUTH PWR INT'L

Thank you to the young people from YOUTH PWR INT'L who delivered food and essential items to the Food Hub on Saturday - we are most grateful for your support. The organisation, based in Waddon, works with communities to engage, inspire, educate and empower teenagers and young adults. As part of their Covid-19 support project, #nextdoor, the young project committee members are also providing care packages to individual young people in the community and personal support through virtual means and face to face during the coronavirus crisis.

 

Mon 01/06/20

Tins of cooked meat and tinned ready meals and fruit are most needed

Tins of cooked meat such as chicken, tinned ready meat meals, tins of fruit and rice pudding and packets of instant custard are among the items on our Food List for June. Small 500g packets of rice and packs of microwavable rice are also listed, along with jars of jam, honey and savoury spreads, tinned and packet potatoes and cartons of long life whole milk. Shower gel, washing tablets/capsules, small washing up liquid and toilet rolls are this month's non-food items most required. Please bring donations to Purley United Reformed Church, next to Purley Hospital, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 10.00am-12.00 noon - come to the door at the end of the roadway along the left side of the church building.

 

Sun 31/05/20

14,000-plus meals provided in the three months from March to May

In May, the Food Hub provided a total of 4,590 meals to 510 clients and family members in crisis, bringing the number of meals from March to May to nearly 14,700 - an increase of more than 100 per cent on the same period in 2019, and taking us past 185,000 meals overall since the Food Hub started in 2013. One client expressed their thanks: 'I do not normally ask for help but times are tough - thank you so much,' and another said: 'Thank you, it makes life so much easier.'

 

Thu 14/05/20

Neighbourhood food collections provide a big boost

Pictured above is the food brought to the Food Hub yesterday by Rebecca from among her neighbours in Redford Avenue, Coulsdon. Rebecca had emailed us to say she'd seen that we don't need more volunteers at present 'so I'm thinking I could start a local collection point from home and drop donations to you once a week...' She put posts on her local Facebook pages and within minutes heard back from the first two people wanting to donate. Meanwhile, Helen has organised collections from her neighbours in Furze Lane, Purley - see the 'how can I help?' page on this website. And Elizabeth from Croydon Communities Consortium has used Nextdoor, the neighbourhood hub, to collect and receive donations from people all over Purley, Sanderstead and South Croydon for both the Food Hub and The Vine food bank run by the Salvation Army in New Addington. Thank you all very much.

 

Wed 13/05/20

Thank you Londis Coulsdon in Chipstead Valley Road and owner Sudesh!

We are very grateful for the support we are receiving from the Londis shop at 229 Chipstead Valley Road in Coulsdon, and owner Sudesh. They have been donating up to 20 loaves of bread, boxes of pasta, bags of potatoes and fruit, and have offered also to have one of our collection baskets in the shop for customers' donations. Thank you Sudesh!

 

Tue 12/05/20

Jam, tins of mixed veg, tinned fruit and toilet rolls are added to May list

New items - jars of jam, tins of mixed veg, tinned fruit and packs of toilet rolls - have been added to our May Food List. We are open to receive donations on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, between 10.00am-12.00noon, at Purley United Reformed Church, 906 Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2LN - please bring them to the door at the far end of the roadway running along the left side of the church building. Thank you!

 

Fri 01/05/20

Ready meals, potatoes, coffee and custard head May's most-wanted list

The items most needed for the Food Hub's clients in May include tinned ready meals, tinned/packet potatoes, jars of coffee, tinned/packet custard, tins of rice pudding and jars of honey and savoury spreads, and also shower gel and washing tablets/capsules. The full list is available here. Donations can be brought on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, from 10.00am-12.00noon, to Purley United Reformed Church, 906 Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2LN - next to Purley Hospital. Please come to the door at the far end of the internal roadway that runs along the left-hand side of the church building.

 

Thu 30/04/20

Second busiest month in the Food Hub's seven-year history

April was the second busiest month in the Food Hub's seven-year history with 5,022 meals provided to hard-pressed clients and their families - just 45 meals fewer than the record set in March. It was the first month of operation of our new home food delivery service and took us past 180,000 meals overall since 2013. As always, we extend our enormous thanks to everyone who so generously donates food, toiletries and other items from our monthly list.

 

Thu 23/04/20

Supermarket collection baskets full to the brim!

Thank you very much to everyone who is leaving donations of food, toiletries, etc, in our collection baskets at three local supermarkets: Waitrose Sanderstead, Sainsbury's Warlingham and Sainsbury's Local Purley. Pictured is the basket at Waitrose Sanderstead yesterday (Wednesday) - full to the top!

Yesterday our volunteer drivers delivered food parcels to 31 clients in the South Croydon, Coulsdon, Purley and Waddon postcode areas, providing food to a total of 97 family members. Thank you to the team of Camilla, Rev Fiona, Clare, Jean & Chris, Fiona T, Kevin & Julia, Kate, Bebe, Sue, Chris, Lynda, Sara & Martin, Barbara and Danu.

 

Sun 19/04/20

Honey and tinned/packet potatoes and custard are new items on April food list

Four new items have been added to the list of products that we are short of this month for hard-pressed clients and their families: jars of honey, tinned and packet potatoes, tinned and packet custard and washing tablets/capsules. The updated April food list is available by clicking here. Donations will be gratefully received this week on Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 10.00am-12.00noon at Purley United Reformed Church, 906 Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2LN, next to Purley Hospital. Thank you very much.

 

Sat 11/04/20

Big thank-you to our volunteers and food donors

A big thank-you to the team of volunteers on duty for the Food Hub on Wednesday (8th April) - receiving and sorting food donations and refilling the shelves, and preparing, packing and delivering food parcels to the 33 clients and total of 103 family members: Simon, Trish, Becky, Salli, Laura, Betty, Sally, Rachael, Bunty, Bej, Trevor, Ivanka, Chris, Sue, Lynda, Bebe, Danu, Rev Fiona, Sara, Martin, Clare and Fiona T. Thank you all, and Waitrose Coulsdon and everyone else who provided food and money donations.

 

Thu 09/04/20

Pasta, savoury spreads and coffee added to April's most needed list

New items - pasta, savoury spreads and coffee - have now been added to our April Food List. We are open to receive donations on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, from 10.00am-12.00noon, at Purley United Reformed Church, 906 Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2LN - between Purley Hospital and the Pear Tree pub. Our grateful clients and their families join us in thanking you so very much for your ongoing support.

 

Sat 04/04/20

Food parcels provided today for 46 clients and 161 family members

Today saw the launch of the Food Hub's new home delivery service to clients and families referred to us by our Ticket Partners and living in the CR8, CR2, CR5 and CR0 4 (Waddon) postcode areas: in total, food was provided to 46 clients and 161 family members. Huge thanks to our volunteer drivers Liam, Lynda, Bebe, Sara, Martin, Fiona, Kate, Clare, Catherine, Chris and Mary, and to the team who packed the parcels: Rachael, Emily, Sally, Eddie, Trish, Simon, Betty, Trevor and Ivanka. Thank you too to Sainsbury's Local Purley and Waitrose Coulsdon for big donations of bread and fresh food, and to all the kind people from the local community who dropped in donations and also refreshments during the morning. A wonderful all-round team effort!

 

Fri 03/04/20

Milk, tea bags, tinned ready meals and tin openers top April's most needed list 

Please click here for our April Food List with the food and other items we most need this month to re-stock our shelves, including long life whole milk, tea bags, sugar, tinned ready meals and tins of pulses, vegetables and rice pudding, and washing up liquid, toothpaste and shower gel...and tin openers.

For the duration of the coronavirus crisis, we will be open to receive donations on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, between 10.00am-12.00noon, at Purley United Reformed Church, 906 Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2LN (between Purley Hospital and the Pear Tree pub). We thank everyone for your continued support.

 

Thu 02/04/20

Record month at the Food Hub with food provided for over 5,000 meals

March was the BUSIEST EVER month in the Food Hub's seven years of operation, with food for a record 5,067 meals provided to clients and families in crisis - that's over 1,000 more meals than in the previous busiest month in December 2017.

We thank everyone who brought in donations of food and money (and words of thanks and encouragement) and of course our volunteers for sorting the food donations, packing the food parcels and running the very busy sessions.

 

Mon 23/03/20

Food provided for 156 people at our busiest ever session

It was the Food Hub's busiest ever session on Saturday with 44 clients attending and food provided for a total of 156 people and family members. Huge thanks to the clients for their patience, to the kind local folk who brought in donations of food and money, to Waitrose Coulsdon for a massive amount of food and other items including 91 loo rolls!...and of course to our team of volunteers on duty for nearly four hours: Tasha, Rachael, Danu, Juliana, Liam, Louise P, Betty, Trevor, Felicity, Zivile and Ivanka.

 

Mon 16/03/20

What a team! Our Super Six swimmers raise a superb £1,120

The Food Hub's Super Six team of (left to right) Gilbert, Winifred, Louise, Jude, Howard and Janet swam a combined total of 107 lengths of Purley Pool in their allotted 55 minutes on Saturday 7th March...and raised a magnificent £1,120 in this year's Swimathon organised by Purley Rotary. Thank you all so much (and your sponsors too) - another terrific effort and result. Our team, aged from 11 to 82, was one of 33 which took part over the two Saturdays of the event, and the overall total of 222 swimmers covered 3,404 lengths or around 53 miles.

 

Sun 01/03/20

Honey, porridge, juice, size 6 nappies and toothpaste most needed in March

In March we are particularly requesting donations of any of these food items:

Jars of honey, packets of plain porridge, cartons of long life fruit juice / small bottles of squash, long life whole milk, packets/tubs of dried potatoes, and jars of age 10 months baby food.

Non-food items especially needed are:

Size 6 nappies, toothpaste, unisex shampoo, washing powder tablets/sachets, and small washing up liquid.

Click here for a list of places in Purley where donations can be taken. Thank you so much!

 

Sat 29/02/20

Busiest February to date with 3,400 meals provided

This has been the busiest February in the Food Hub's seven-year history with food for 3,411 meals provided for struggling clients and their families - nearly 1,400 more meals than in February 2019. So, that's close to 7,000 meals provided already in the first two months of 2020 and takes us past 170,000 meals overall since 2013.

Thank you to EVERYONE - supporters and volunteers - for helping to keep our shelves stocked to meet clients' needs.

 

Tue 25/02/20

Thank you to everyone at Iceland Wallington

Customers of Iceland Wallington kindly donated 26 bags of food and £37.39 in our collection at the store on Saturday 22nd February. Thank you to everyone for your generosity - and to the supportive Iceland staff and management.

 

Sat 01/02/20

Milk, dried potatoes, pasta sauce and carrots top February's most-wanted list

Long life whole milk, packets/tubs of dried potatoes, pasta sauce and tinned carrots head the list of food items most needed by the Food Hub in February. Also listed are jars of strawberry and raspberry jam and peanut butter, and puddings, jellies and Angel Delight. Non-food items needed are washing powder tablets/sachets, small washing up liquid, unisex shampoo and ladies sanitary pads. The full list and the places in Purley where donations can be taken are available here.

 

Fri 31/01/20

Another 3,500 meals provided for hard-pressed clients and families

Following on from the 3,600-plus meals provided in December, we provided a further 3,500 meals in January for hard-pressed clients and their families - almost exactly 1,000 meals more than in January a year ago. Nearly 160 clients attended over the course of this month's eight Wednesday and Saturday sessions, collecting packages of food, toiletries and household items for 390 people. We provide food for 3 meals a day for 3 days for each person, so that was a total of 3,510 meals in January...and now more than 165,000 meals in the past 7 years since we opened in January 2013. Once again, huge thanks to everyone who so kindly and generously donates food and other items to the Food Hub - and to the 140 volunteers involved in the many different aspects of the work.

 

Wed 01/01/20

Six items to focus donations on in January

Donations of food and toiletries, etc, to the Food Hub in December were so amazingly huge that in January we are asking supporters to focus please on the following six items that we remain short of:

• Tins of plain meat - chicken, ham, corned beef
• Cartons of long life whole milk
• Jars of peanut butter
• Strawberry & raspberry jam
• Packets of dried potatoes
• Unisex shampoo

Please click here for the January food list with the places in Purley where donations can be taken. Thank you for your continued support.

 

Mon 23/12/19

Busiest ever session at Purley Food Hub

Saturday morning (21st December) was the busiest ever session at the Food Hub, with food for 1,098 meals provided for people in crisis. 39 clients attended and we provided food for a total of 122 people. Today (Monday) we delivered 150 Christmas turkey hampers to clients/families nominated by our Ticket Partner agencies through the Christmas Lunch on Jesus project, while earlier this month the agencies received presents to give to 200 needy children through Toys for Joy.

On behalf of the Trustees and Management Committee, we send enormous thanks to everyone who donated food, money and their time: our volunteers, churches, schools, businesses, Rotary, WI and uniformed organisations and many, many individuals and families throughout the local community.

 

Wed 11/12/19

Another generous Christmas collection at Waitrose Sanderstead

We thank shoppers and staff at Waitrose Sanderstead for contributing the equivalent of 14 large trolleyloads of food and other items plus £225.06 in our Christmas collection at the store on Friday 6th December. Thank you all for every single item and pound donated. Our first collection of 2020 is at Waitrose Coulsdon on Saturday 11th January, 9am - 6pm.

 

Fri 06/12/19

Caridon carry on this Christmas - and look next to Easter!

A large donation of toys and food was collected today from Caridon Property based in High Street, Croydon, with the toys earmarked for our Toys for Joy scheme for needy children. Caridon are regular supporters of the Food Hub and organiser Susan Passman (centre) and her team are already talking about their next collection...of Easter eggs! Pictured are our volunteers Eddie and David receiving today's goods.

 

Thu 05/12/19

Woodcote High present huge food collection at their Christmas concert

Students and their families and the staff at Woodcote High School donated a staggering total of 1,375 food and other items which they presented to Helen Harris, our Management Committee chair, at the school's Christmas concert tonight. Noteworthy individual contributors were Emma from 10Z with 42 items, Rhea (7D) 24 items and Imaani (12Y) 17 items. In addition, the school is donating £880 raised from the concert itself. Thank you Woodcote High!

 

Mon 02/12/19

Sainsbury's Local promoting the Food Hub

During December, the Food Hub is being promoted at Sainsbury's Local in Purley High Street through the store's 'Help Brighten a Million Christmases' scheme - they have a collection basket for food and toys. Each item donated is counted towards Sainsbury's overall collection target of 1 million items nationwide.

Meanwhile, we are again running Christmas Lunch on Jesus, delivering Christmas turkey hampers to 150 clients/families nominated by our Ticket Partners, and also Toys for Joy, aiming to give two gifts each to around 200 needy children. Keston Primary School is again collecting along with local businesses. Full details from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Sun 01/12/19

Christmas biscuits and children's chocolate treats requested in December

Christmas biscuits and chocolate treats for children are among the items included on our December food list for hard-pressed clients and their families. Donations of cartons of long life whole milk and tins of chicken, ham and corned beef are also requested, along with tinned peas and carrots, tinned dessert fruit and rice pudding and small bags of sugar. This month's non-food items especially needed are tin openers, unisex deodorant and adults' toothbrushes. Donations will be gratefully received at Purley United Reformed Church and Christ Church Purley, as well as at Get Fired! and Cafe Blue in Brighton Road Purley. Thank you everyone for your support.

 

Sat 30/11/19

Busiest ever November follows busiest October...

Our busiest October was followed in turn by our busiest November, with 3,042 meals provided over the past month for clients and their families, including a total of 1,044 meals on the last 2 Saturdays alone. It took us past 6,000 meals during these last 2 months...and past 160,000 meals overall since the Food Hub opened almost 7 years ago.

 

Tue 19/11/19

Waitrose Coulsdon shoppers donate 11 trolleyloads of goods plus £225

Big thanks to the generous customers and staff of Waitrose Coulsdon where we collected the equivalent of 11 trolleyloads of goods and £225.79 on Saturday 16th November. Our final supermarket collection of 2019 is at Waitrose Sanderstead on Friday 6th December from 9am - 6pm.

 

Fri 01/11/19

November's food list is headed by long life whole milk and tinned meat and potatoes

Last month was our busiest October since we started in 2013 with 3,069 meals provided to struggling clients and their families - over 1,000 meals up on October 2018. It was also our 4th busiest month over the past nearly 7 years and the busiest month outside of December and January.

As we continue the build-up to Christmas, please click here for our November food list. Cartons of long life whole milk once again top the list, followed by tins of corned beef, chicken and ham, packets of dried / tinned potatoes and tinned carrots. Also listed are jars of fish paste, small bags of sugar, tins of rice pudding and children's chocolate treats. There are also 3 non-food items listed: toilet rolls, unisex deodorant and bars of soap.

We remain so grateful for the local community's continued support.

 

Wed 30/10/19

28 schools donate food this Harvest time

We are so grateful once again to our local churches, schools, businesses and organisations for their amazingly generous response to this year's annual Harvest appeal for food donations. Our storeroom at Purley United Reformed Church is overflowing now with the deliveries we have received and collected as we start the busy build-up to Christmas. So far 28 schools have donated food this Autumn term:

Wallington High for Girls, New Valley Primary, The John Fisher, Royal Russell Junior, Little Apples Day Nursery, Wilson's, Gresham Primary, St Nicholas, Regina Coeli Catholic Primary, The Minster Junior, Keston Primary, Atwood Primary, Oasis Academy Byron, Purley Oaks Primary, Old Palace, Woldingham, Oasis Academy Coulsdon, St Giles, St David's, Warlingham Park, Cumnor House for Girls, Margaret Roper Catholic Primary, Oakwood, Laleham Lea, The Hayes Primary, Foresters Primary, Kenley Primary and Beaumont Primary.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

 

Mon 07/10/19

'I enjoy every session, ensuring each client leaves with a smile...' 

Volunteers, supporters and friends of Purley Food Hub attended the Annual General Meeting at Christ Church Purley on Thursday 3rd October. Guests speakers included Lizzie Englefield from St Mary's Catholic High School, Jo Doherty and Mimi Khorsand from the Happy Baby Community and Nicky Powell from Croydon Refugee Day Centre, as well as Food Hub volunteers Cynthia Smith and Betty Jones. Please click here to view the 2018/2019 Annual Report.

Facts from the Report's Our Year In Numbers feature include: 691 clients, referred by 69 agencies in the borough, visited the Food Hub a total of 1,474 times and received food and toiletries for 3,262 people; at 3 meals a day for 3 days for each person, that's 29,358 meals provided. And among the volunteers explaining In Our Own Words what keeps them coming back to help, Emily writes: 'I have been part of the team for over 4 years and have enjoyed every session, welcoming each client and ensuring they leave with a smile and small reassurance that their short-term food supply has been covered. I really enjoy the teamwork and positive atmosphere. No matter what the circumstances, family size or time, there is always an enthusiastic team waiting to help.'

 

Tue 01/10/19

Vegetarian meals, bottles of squash and packets of dried potatoes top October's list

The 1,899 meals provided in September for hard-pressed clients and their families took us past 20,000 meals in total so far this year and to almost 155,000 since we opened in January 2013. Click here please for our October food list. Tinned vegetarian meals, small bottles of squash and packets of dried potatoes head October's list, which also includes hot chocolate requiring only water, jars of meat and fish paste, toddler microwavable meals and packets of custard requiring only water. Three non-food items on the list are: disposable razors, non bio washing powder capsules/tablets and small washing up liquid. Thank you everyone for your donations, however big or small - every item we receive goes to someone in need.

 

Mon 23/09/19

Thank you Waitrose Sanderstead!

Generous shoppers at Waitrose Sanderstead donated the equivalent of 14 trolleyloads of food and other items, plus £151.13 in cash, in our latest collection at the store on Friday 20th September. Thank you very much everyone, not forgetting the Waitrose staff and management (and our own Food Hub collectors and sorters!). Our final two supermarket collections of the year are on Saturday 16th November at Waitrose Coulsdon and Friday 6th December at Waitrose Sanderstead, both 9am - 6pm.

 

Sun 01/09/19

Can you help please to build up our food stocks again in September...?

August's record-equalling 2,304 meals provided to struggling clients and their families (the same number as a year ago) took the combined June-August total to a most-ever 7,029 - 200 more than last summer. It means that as we start on the autumn road to Christmas, our food stocks have become somewhat depleted and we would greatly appreciate your help in building up the stock levels again during September...

So, please click here for our September food list. Once again long life whole milk tops our list of priority items needed, followed by small bags of sugar, long life fruit juice / small bottles of squash, packets of dried potatoes, packet soup, jars of pasta sauce, packets of savoury biscuits and tins of rice pudding and dessert fruit. Two non-food items we especially need are unisex shower gel and small washing up liquid. As always, on behalf of our clients, we warmly thank you for your wonderful support.

 

Thu 01/08/19

Long life whole milk again heads our Top 10 priority items needed in August

The past month's 2,538 meals provided for hard-pressed clients and their families made it the Food Hub's busiest July since we started in 2013...as well as taking us past the landmark figure of 150,000 meals overall. As an indication of our steadily increasing busy-ness, we passed 50,000 meals in September 2015 (32 months), 100,000 in September 2017 (24 months) and now 150,000 in July 2019 (22 months).

Please click here for our August food list with long life whole milk once more heading the Top 10 priority items, along with 500g packets of breakfast cereals, small jars of honey, long life fruit juice / small bottles of squash, packets of dried potatoes, small packets of savoury rice, packet soup and tinned rice pudding. Two non-food items we especially need are small washing up liquid and unisex shampoo. As always, thank you for your support.

 

Sat 27/07/19

Food Hub passes 150,000 meals milestone

Today we passed our latest milestone by providing the 150,000th meal to the Food Hub's clients and their families since we opened six and a half years ago in January 2013. To date, 2,688 clients have attended a total of 7,408 times and we have provided food for 16,681 people going through hard times. At three meals a day for three days for each person, that's a grand total of 150,129 meals so far. Once again, we say a huge, heartfelt thank-you to our wonderful volunteers and supporters who make the Food Hub happen: including those who serve our clients each Saturday and Wednesday, sort and date-label food donations on Mondays, refill the shelves on Tuesdays and collect donations at supermarkets...plus the many, many churches, schools, organisations, businesses and families and individuals who give us food, toiletries and money. It is one tremendous all-round community team effort and we warmly thank everyone involved.

 

Tue 16/07/19

Waitrose Coulsdon shoppers show their generosity once more

14 large trolleyloads of food and other items plus £100.44 in cash were donated by generous shoppers in our collection at Waitrose Coulsdon on 13th July - thank you very much everyone, we are most grateful. Our next collections to the end of the year are on Friday 20th September at Waitrose Sanderstead, Saturday 16th November at Waitrose Coulsdon and Friday 6th December at Waitrose Sanderstead, all 9am - 6pm.

 

Mon 01/07/19

Needed in July please: tinned meat, whole milk, fruit juice, pulses...and TIN OPENERS

Another 2,187 meals were provided for Purley Food Hub clients and their families in June, taking 2019's meals total so far to just short of 14,000. To date, since the Food Hub started in January 2013, 2,657 clients have visited 7,303 times between them and we have provided food for 16,426 people in crisis. At 3 meals a day for 3 days for each person, that's close to 148,000 meals overall.

The July food list sets out this month's Top 10 priority items: tinned plain meat (corned beef, ham, chicken), hot chocolate drink requiring only water, long life whole milk, fruit juice/small bottles of squash, tinned pulses (kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas), sweet biscuits and packets of custard requiring only water. Non-food items needed please are unisex deodorant and shampoo...and TIN OPENERS. Thank you as always. 

 

Wed 19/06/19

Waitrose Sanderstead once again display great generosity

The equivalent of 8 large trolleyloads of food and other items plus £167 in cash were donated by customers of Waitrose Sanderstead in our collection at the store on Friday 14th June. Our collectors enjoyed good conversations with the friendly shoppers who took the opportunity to find out more about the work of the Food Hub. The day ended with a gentleman rushing over as the team were clearing up to put a £20 note in the collection bottle. Thank you everyone for your generous support once again. Our next supermarket collection is at Waitrose Coulsdon on Saturday 13th July, 9am - 6pm.

 

Thu 06/06/19

Sainsbury's Warlingham chooses Food Hub for 150 days of donations

As part of Sainsbury's 150th anniversary celebrations, staff at the Warlingham store have kindly nominated Purley Food Hub as their chosen charity for 150 days. They will be at the collection basket several times a week to encourage shoppers to donate items and then they will deliver the items to the Food Hub each week for our volunteers to sort and put on the shelves. So a big thank-you to the shoppers and staff at Sainsbury's Warlingham! Pictured (left to right) are our volunteers Ros and Jean with Louise and Ryan from Sainsbury's.

 

Sat 01/06/19

Long life milk and fruit juice, peas, carrots, tomatoes...and toilet rolls are needed most in June

With nearly 2,450 meals provided for hard-pressed clients and their families during this past month, it was our second busiest May since the Food Hub opened 6 years ago. It took the year's total to almost 11,800 meals so far in 2019 and past 145,000 overall since 2013. Thank you everyone for your part in making this possible.

Our June food list has this month's Top 10 priority items: cartons of long life whole milk, long life milk alternatives (soya, oat, almond), long life fruit juice / bottles of squash, 500g packets of sugar, tins of peas and carrots, tinned tomatoes and packet custard requiring only water. Non-food items needed are toilet rolls, unisex deodorant and non bio washing tablets/sachets.

 

Thu 23/05/19

American university students visit the Food Hub

We were delighted to welcome a team of 7 American university students to the Food Hub yesterday (Wednesday). The young people - from Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida - spent the morning receiving food donations from customers at Sainsbury's Local Purley, sorting and date-stamping items and bagging chocolate treats and washing machine tablets ready to go on the shelves for clients coming to the Food Hub on Saturday. The students came as part of their 3-week working visit to Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church, Purley, for which they raised their own funds.

So, thank you Kylee, Ethan, Pearson, Jessica, Ali, Delaney and Courtney - it was great to meet you and to have you working with us!

 

Tue 21/05/19

Thank you shoppers at the Co-op Hamsey Green

Generous shoppers at the Co-op Hamsey Green donated 27 bags of food and toiletries and £108.34 in cash during our collection at the store on Saturday 18th May. Thank you all - every item and every pound you kindly donated will make a real difference to people in need at this time. 

 

Wed 01/05/19

Long life fruit juice and milk, breakfast cereals and tinned meat top May's most-needed list

For the fourth month in a row, the number of meals provided by the Food Hub topped 2,000 again in April. That's now more than 9,300 meals provided to struggling clients and their families in 2019 so far. Our May food list sets out this month's priority items required: cartons of long life fruit juice and whole milk, 500g packets of breakfast cereals, tins of chicken, ham and corned beef, packets of dried potato, tins of rice pudding and packet custard. Non food items listed are unisex deodorant and non bio washing tablets/sachets. The list also gives details of several places in Purley where donations can be taken. Once again we thank you for your support.

 

Thu 18/04/19

Waitrose Coulsdon shoppers donate seven trolleyloads of goods plus £211

Generous shoppers at Waitrose Coulsdon donated seven large trolleyloads of goods and £211 in cash in our latest collection at the store on Saturday 13th April. We are most grateful for every donation received. Please look out for our volunteers at our next two collections at the Co-op Hamsey Green on 18th May and Waitrose Sanderstead on 15th June.

 

Sun 07/04/19

Can you help? We need more Sorters, Stackers, Packers and Refreshment Volunteers...

We are currently looking for more volunteers to join our friendly Food Hub team. Specifically, we need more Sorters, Stackers, Packers and Refreshment Volunteers at our Distribution Centre in central Purley, and also more Supermarket Collectors. Details are here on our website: click on how can I help? in the menu (top right) and then scroll down to Help at our Distribution Centre. To find out more, please contact us on 07546 635295 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will arrange for you to come to a taster session. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Mon 01/04/19

Breakfast cereals, sugar, savoury rice and tins of plain meat most needed in April

Last month was our busiest-ever March since the Food Hub started in 2013, with food for 2,780 meals provided for hard-pressed clients and their families. It takes the total number of meals provided already this year to 7,300, and past 140,000 overall. Our April food list has the Top 10 priority items currently most needed, including 500g packets of breakfast cereals, small bags of sugar, microwavable packets of savoury rice, and tins of corned beef, chicken and ham. Also needed this month are jars of pasta sauce, tins of dessert fruit, and children's chocolate treats, and three non-food items: unisex deodorant, sanitary pads, and non bio washing tablets/sachets. Huge thanks once more for everyone's continued support.

 

Thu 21/03/19

15 trolleyloads of goods and £216 donated at Waitrose Sanderstsead

We had another very successful collection at Waitrose Sanderstead on Saturday 16th March with 15 trolleyloads of goods and £216 being donated. Thank you Waitrose customers as always for your generosity. Our next supermarket collections are at Waitrose Coulsdon on 13th April and the Co-op Hamsey Green on 18th May.

 

Tue 05/03/19

Magnificent Seven swim 106 lengths and raise £1,670

What a team! Our 'Magnificent Seven' swimmers - aged from 10 to 81 - completed 106 lengths of Purley Pool to raise £1,670 in sponsorship at Purley Rotary Club's Swimathon event on Saturday 2nd March. Well done everyone, we salute you: (front) Jude and Betty, (middle) Ernest, Louise, Winnie and Terry, (back) Howard, the team captain.

And below: (left to right) Betty, Terry, Howard, Ernest, Winnie, Louise and Jude.

 

Sat 02/03/19

Meat and fish paste and tinned vegetables and fruit head March's most-needed list

A further 2,000 meals were provided by the Food Hub in February to people going through hard times. These bring the overall total of meals to approaching 140,000 since we opened in 2013. In March, the priority items needed are jars of meat paste and fish paste, tinned peas, carrots and pulses, such as kidney beans and chickpeas, and tins of dessert fruit. Also needed are jars of strawberry jam and raspberry jam, and cartons of long life fruit juice and small bottles of squash, and non-food items are unisex shower gel and disposable razors. Please click here for the full list, including the places in Purley where donations can be dropped off. As always, thank you very much for your generous support.

 

Mon 25/02/19

22 bags of food are donated by generous shoppers at the Co-op Kenley

Shoppers at the Co-op Kenley kindly donated 22 bags of food and toiletries and £55.85 in our collection at the store on Saturday 23rd February. Thank you everyone - each item donated is always most gratefully received. Our next collections are at Waitrose Sanderstead on 16th March and Waitrose Coulsdon on 13th April.

 

Fri 01/02/19

9 priority items especially needed by the Food Hub in February

Food for just over 2,500 meals was provided by Purley Food Hub to people in crisis in January in a busy start to 2019. In the month that marked the Food Hub's 6th birthday, it took the overall total of meals provided so far to past 135,000. Our February food list has 9 priority items that are particularly needed just now, including tinned plain meat (chicken, ham, corned beef) and ready meat meals and tins of carrots, peas and dessert fruit. Savoury biscuits and long life whole milk are also listed, along with adult toothbrushes and size 5 nappies. We are so grateful for everyone's support.

 

Mon 21/01/19

Shoppers at Waitrose Coulsdon donate 8 trolleyloads of food and £146

The collections we hold each month at local supermarkets are a major source of the food that we can give to our clients and their families. In our first collection of 2019 at Waitrose Coulsdon on Saturday 19th January generous shoppers donated the equivalent of 8 trolleyloads of food and toiletries, plus £146.45. Thank you all very much - with big thanks too to the store's staff and management. Our next collections are at the Co-op Kenley on 23rd February and Waitrose Sanderstead on 16th March.

 

Mon 07/01/19

How you can get involved in helping the Food Hub

Our new How you can help leaflet highlights the various ways that people can get involved with Purley Food Hub by:

• Helping with food collections at local supermarkets
• Joining our team of volunteers
• Encouraging your school/college, business or organisation to give support
• Donating food
• Giving money 

To view the leaflet, please click here. For more details, you can phone us on 07546 635295 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Tue 01/01/19

Peanut butter, honey, dried potato and tins of plain meat are our top needs in January

Jars of peanut butter and honey, packets of dried potato and tins of plain meat and ready meat meals head up the list of food items we need most for our clients in January 2019. The January food list also includes tins of rice pudding and cartons of long life whole milk, along with deodorant, shampoo and small bottles of washing up liquid. Thank you very much everyone.

 

Fri 28/12/18

Film feast of donations to the Food Hub...

We are very grateful to Croydon's David Lean Cinema and their patrons who today donated £318 and 12 big bags of food and other items to the Food Hub as 'payment' to see this afternoon's film, 'Babette's Feast'. We will be able to use the money to buy our next batch of pre-paid bus tickets for struggling clients who would otherwise be walking home with their heavy food parcels.

 

Sat 22/12/18

OUR BUSIEST EVER DAY AT THE FOOD HUB!

Today was the busiest ever day in the Food Hub's six-year history. Thirty-nine clients attended and we provided food for a total of 113 people; at three meals a day for three days for each person, that's just over 1,000 meals provided in the session. It took us past 30,000 meals overall in 2018, our biggest annual total since we opened in January 2013.

At the same time, 102 volunteers in 34 cars delivered 160 hampers, including a turkey and all the trimmings, to 160 people nominated by our food ticket partners as part of the Christmas Lunch On Jesus scheme. And last week 226 children received a gift and chocolate selection box through another Food Hub project, Toys For Joy.

We send heartfelt thanks and very best Christmas and New Year wishes to all of our volunteers, friends and supporters. Please click here to read our December newsletter.