Purley Food Hub - a food bank to help people in crisis in our community.

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

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.

 

Thu 20/12/18

Coloma girls come bearing Christmas food donations

Girls from Coloma Convent Girls' School today kindly brought us 30 bags of food and toiletries collected by Years 9 and 12. Other recent donations of food and money have included from:

  • AIG Croydon (Personal Insurance UK Claims Team)
  • Caridon Property & Foundation
  • Coulsdon College
  • Keston Primary School
  • Optivo Croydon
  • SECOM Kenley
  • Southern Rail train drivers based at Selhurst and Norwood depots
  • United Airlines Heathrow
  • Wallington High School for Girls
  • Woodcote High School (who, as well as 30 boxes of food, also gave us £358 from their excellent 'Spirit of Christmas' concert on 6th December - plus £60 raised from a 40p donation for each charity Christmas card the school sent out)

We are extremely grateful for each and every single donation we have received during the year, however big or small - from schools and churches, businesses and organisations, and many individuals and families (including a lot of reverse Advent calendar donations). Thank you all very much indeed - we greatly appreciate your generosity.

 

Mon 10/12/18

26 trolleyloads of goods plus £330 from our collections at Waitrose

Enormous thanks to the customers, staff and management at the two Waitrose stores in Sanderstead and Coulsdon for their outstanding response to our collections in November and December. At Coulsdon on 17th November we collected 8 trolleyloads of food and toiletries, etc, and £103 in cash, then at Sanderstead on 8th December we received 18 trolleyloads plus £227. This was on top of the donations we receive throughout the year in our collection box at Sanderstead. We are hugely grateful to everyone.

 

Sat 01/12/18

Milk, fruit juice and potatoes are needed most in December - along with Christmas treats

For the 9th month this year we passed 2,000 meals provided in a month in November - that's more than 27,000 meals this year so far and more than 130,000 in total since we started nearly 6 years ago. To keep our stocks replenished for December, traditionally our busiest month of the year, our December food list includes requests for cartons of long life whole milk and fruit juice, tins of potatoes or packets of dried potato, jars of fish paste, Christmas biscuits and chocolate treats for children. Also needed at this time are adult toothpaste, toilet rolls and tin openers. Thank you so much for your support.

 

Fri 02/11/18

Tinned meat, potatoes, honey and long life milk head November's food list

As we seek to maintain our food stocks in the busy run-up to Christmas, tins and packets of potatoes/dried potato, tinned chicken, ham & corned beef, jars of peanut butter & honey, and cartons of long life whole milk head the Food Hub's list of items needed most for our clients in November. Other non-food items required are size 6 nappies, washing up liquid and tin openers. Please click here for the full list and where donations can be taken. Thank you very much.

 

Thu 01/11/18

Churches and 30 schools lead the response to our appeal for extra donations

Two months ago we were concerned because our food stocks had never been so low and we issued an urgent appeal for extra donations to replenish our shelves. Since then we have had a magnificent Harvest-time response with large donations from churches and schools, businesses and organisations, families and individuals. We give enormous thanks for each and every donation received - as well as to our Food Hub volunteers: the Monday sorters and Tuesday shelf-fillers and the team of driver collectors/deliverers.

In total, 30 schools gave us food from their Harvest collections:

PRIMARY - Atwood Academy, Beaumont, Cumnor House Girls, Foresters, Gresham, Harris Academy Kenley, Heathfield Academy, Kenley, Keston, Laleham Lea, Margaret Roper Catholic, New Valley, Oakwood, Oasis Academy Byron, Park Hill Junior, Purley Oaks, Regina Coeli Catholic, Royal Russell Junior, South Norwood, St David's, St John's CofE, St Nicholas, St Peter's, The Hayes, Warlingham Park.

SECONDARY - The John Fisher,  Oasis Academy Coulsdon, St Giles, Wilson's, Woldingham.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

 

Thu 18/10/18

Ticket partners give presentations at the Food Hub's AGM

Four of the Food Hub's ticket partners gave well-received presentations at our AGM on Tuesday 16th October at Purley United Reformed Church: Sonia Meikle from Croydon Council's Welfare Rights Team, Claire South of the Family Resilience Service, Inez Claus from Evolve Housing + Support and Peter Hall from Croydon Refugee Day Centre. Fifty volunteers, friends and supporters attended the meeting and also heard from Dave Scott, our Client Support Volunteer/Befriender, and accounts of the Food Hub's work from Ivanka Lennon, Chair of Trustees, and Helen Harris, Chair of the Management Committee. Nick Pannell and Trevor Jones were appointed new Trustees, with Jim Beacom and John Stradling standing down. Please click here to see our 2017/2018 Annual Report.

 

Mon 01/10/18

Peanut butter, sugar, potatoes and tinned meat meals needed most in October

Huge thanks from everyone at Purley Food Hub for the superb response from local churches, schools, community organisations and families and individuals to September's urgent appeal for extra donations to address our worryingly low food stocks. We are very grateful! We still need to maintain and build up our stocks this autumn in the lead-up to Christmas - for example, our busiest ever August was followed in turn by our busiest ever September, with food for very nearly 3,000 meals provided - our fourth highest monthly total since we opened in 2013.

Our October food list includes requests for peanut butter, sugar, tinned/packet potato, tinned meat meals and tinned carrots and peas. Non food items that we especially need are children's toothbrushes, washing up liquid and unisex deodorant. Thank you again for your support.

 

Mon 17/09/18

Waitrose Sanderstead shoppers donate 12 trolleyloads of food and £124.65

Generous shoppers at Waitrose Sanderstead donated 12 trolleyloads of food, toiletries and household items in our latest collection at the store on Saturday 15th September, plus 124.65 in our collecting bottles. Every item collected will go to local families and individuals experiencing hard times, referred to us by agencies throughout Croydon. Our next supermarket collection is at Waitrose Coulsdon on Saturday 17th November, then it's back to Waitrose Sanderstead for our Christmas collection on Saturday 8th December (both 9am - 6pm).

 

Sat 01/09/18

URGENT APPEAL for extra donations of milk, sugar, jam and ready meat meals

After our busiest ever August with 2,300 meals provided to people in crisis - and close to 20,000 meals this year so far - our food stocks have never been as low as they are currently. So, as we move into autumn and the build-up to Christmas, we are in urgent need of extra donations of food and toiletries...

Specifically on our September food list we are asking please for long life whole milk, small bags of sugar, strawberry and raspberry jam, tinned ready meat meals, tins of red kidney beans, jars of pasta sauce and packet soup. The list also includes small packs of tea bags, tinned dessert and rice pudding, packets of sweet biscuits and small bottles of squash. Non food items especially needed are washing up liquid and non bio washing tablets/sachets.

Thank you so much - we greatly appreciate and value everyone's support.

 

Fri 03/08/18

Long life milk, sugar, fish paste and tinned meat top August's most wanted list

With over 17,500 meals provided so far this year to families and single people going through tough times, our food stocks are becoming concerningly low - therefore we are requesting extra help please to refill our shelves in August. We especially need more donations of long life whole milk, 500g bags of sugar, jars of fish and meat paste, and tinned plain meat: chicken, corned beef, ham. Also on our August food list are tins of of tuna, packs of 40 or 80 tea bags, chocolate treats for children, and sweet and savoury biscuits. Non food items particularly needed are non bio washing tablets/sachets, disposable razors, and adults' toothbrushes. Thank you very much as always.

 

Thu 21/06/18

We are so grateful for all the many donations we receive

We are extremely grateful for all the donations of food, toiletries and money that we regularly receive from local churches, schools, uniformed organisations, Rotary and WI, and businesses, as well as from many mostly anonymous families and individuals. Recent donations have included from:

  • 29th Purley Beavers
  • 1st Purley Beavers
  • Sutton BNI
  • Residents of Reynard Court, Purley
  • Churches: St Peter's, South Croydon; Woodmansterne Baptist; Croham Road Baptist, South Croydon; St John's, Old Coulsdon; St Andrew's, Coulsdon; St Antony's, Hamsey Green; and St Mary Magdalene with St Martin, Addiscombe.

Thank you everyone!

 

Mon 18/06/18

Three more highly successful supermarket collections

Our monthly collections at local supermarkets are a major source of food and toiletries, etc, for clients of the Food Hub, so big thanks to the customers, staff and management at these three stores following recent collections there:

  • Waitrose Sanderstead on 16th June - 11 trolleyloads of food, etc, plus £121.72 cash
  • Co-op Hamsey Green on 19th May - 30-plus bags plus £95.00
  • Waitrose Coulsdon on Saturday 21st April - 10 trolleyloads plus £109.99

Our next collection is at Waitrose Coulsdon again on Saturday 14th July, 9.00am-6.00pm.

 

Wed 18/04/18

Beavers rise to the Great Tin Opener Challenge

The 2nd Hamsey Green Beavers rose to their Great Tin Opener Challenge and brought 30 tin openers to the Food Hub on Monday 16th April, plus 15 bags of food from St Antony's Church. To raise the money for the tin openers the Beavers, aged 6-8 years, carried out a whole range of tasks, including hoovering and doing the dishes, making the beds, feeding the cats, helping change nappies - and 'sweeping up the customers' hair in my mum's hairdressing shop'! Thank you, 2nd Hamsey Green Beavers (and St Antony's).

 

Fri 06/04/18

Thank you so much everyone for your donations of food, toiletries, money...and Easter eggs

We continue to be very thankful for each and every single donation of food, toiletries and money that we receive. Recent donations have included...

Food from these churches:

  • St John the Baptist, Purley
  • St Swithun's, Purley
  • All Saints, Kenley
  • St Aidan's Church, Coulsdon
  • Coulsdon Methodist
  • St Gertrude's, South Croydon
  • St Mary's, Sanderstead
  • Montpelier, South Croydon 

Food from:

  • The John Fisher School, Purley - Challoner House are currently leading the inter-House competition for most food collected, with Bede still to come in May...

Easter eggs (and also food) from:

  • Tesco, Purley
  • Caridon Property, Croydon
  • Croydon Jobcentre Plus
  • Friends of Grange Park, Old Coulsdon
  • 2nd Coulsdon Rainbows, 14th Coulsdon Brownies & 7th Coulsdon Guides
  • 3rd Kenley Guides

Cash donations from:

  • Woodcote High School - £303.50 from their Christmas Concert in December 2017
  • Croydon Dancing Club - £250

Toiletries each month from:

  • Infohealth Ltd who run two pharmacies in Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon

On behalf of all the clients and families that we serve, we are most grateful to you - and to many others also - for your generous donations.

 

Mon 26/03/18

Waitrose customers donate 18 trolleyloads of food and toiletries

Customers at Waitrose Sanderstead donated an amazing 18 trolleyloads of food and toiletries, plus £120.64, in our latest collection at the store on Saturday 17th March. Everyone was so generous on a day of extreme weather conditions: two people bought one of everything on our shopping list and someone else donated a whole trolleyful of goods. Thank you all, including our team of collectors who braved the snow, wind and cold...and the store's staff who kindly kept them supplied with hot drinks! Our next collections are at Waitrose Coulsdon on Saturday 21st April, at the Co-op Hamsey Green for the first time on 19th May and then Waitrose Sanderstead again on 16th June.

 

Wed 07/03/18

Super Swimathon team go to great lengths for Food Hub...!

Our Super Six swimmers - (left to right) Winifred, Howard, Betty, Robin, Terry and James - went to great lengths for the Food Hub in the Purley Swimathon on Thursday 1st March...in fact, a record 124 lengths! They are also likely to have raised a record £1,500 in sponsorship - £900 of which will come back to the Food Hub from Purley Rotary Club who organised the annual event. Thank you Howard and team!