News Archive 2020
March, April and December 2020 set new records as our three busiest months ever
Thurs 31/12/20
Wednesday’s final session of the year took the total number of meals provided during 2020 to hard-pressed clients and their families to 48,987. This is by far the most in a year since the Food Hub started in 2013 and up 60 per cent on 2019.
December was our third busiest month on record, with 4,644 meals provided to 516 clients and family members – third only to March (5,067 meals) and April (5,022) at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring.
Once more, on behalf of our clients we thank everyone who is involved in any way at all with the work of the Food Hub. None of what we do would be possible without the contribution of every single volunteer, donor and supporter, and our ticket partners too. THANK YOU SO MUCH ONE AND ALL!
Donations on the past two Wednesdays have included (again) from the lovely people who live in Cumberlands, a 49-house cul-de-sac off Kenley Lane, Croydon Communities Consortium and four churches: St Margaret’s Carshalton Beeches, St Mark’s and St Swithun’s Purley and Coulsdon Methodist – as well as from numerous individuals and families.
Long life whole milk, plain meat, honey and jam head January’s most needed items
Mon 28/12/20
Our January food list is headed once again by our staples of long life whole milk, tins of chicken, ham and corned beef, and jars of honey, jam and peanut butter.
Other items our clients need include: 500g packets of breakfast cereals, small bottles of squash and cartons of long life juice, and packet custard needing only water. Unisex shower gel, small unisex shampoo and washing powder tablets/capsules are this month’s non-food items most needed. Thank you all.
Items can be taken to Purley URC or left at one of our collection points. Full details here.
Wishing all our clients, supporters and volunteers a Christmas & New Year of peace and hope
Tremendous all-round effort sees bumper donations and 900 meals delivered
Thurs 24/12/20
Yesterday (Wednesday) our teams of volunteers packed and delivered food parcels for around 100 clients and family members to their homes in the Purley, Waddon, South Croydon and Coulsdon areas, equivalent to around 900 meals.
Once again, we received a tremendous number of donations from the local community – including baked treats from Purley-based Sugarlicious Cupcakes. In fact, the morning’s donations filled the entire stage of the hall at Purley United Reformed Church, which our afternoon shift of volunteers then kindly stayed behind to sort – hence the happy photo showing a cleared stage!
We wish all our supporters, volunteers and clients a Christmas and New Year of peace and hope.
Another hectic morning with food delivered for 79 people amid a stream of donations
Tues 22/12/20
Saturday morning’s session (19th Dec) was hectic from start to finish, with food for 700-plus meals delivered for 79 clients and family members and a stream of generous donations arriving throughout.
As well as the donations from Waitrose Coulsdon and Yodel Mitcham (see Sun 20/12/20), a carload of food, Christmas fare and toiletries was delivered from Woodcote High School.
There were also donations from Little Apples Day Nursery and numerous individuals and families – in fact, so many that our team had trouble counting them all!
Once again, we say A HEARTFELT THANK-YOU TO YOU ALL.
Thank you Rotary, Women’s Institutes and Inner Wheel
Mon 21/12/20
We gratefully acknowledge the contribution to the work of the Food Hub from organisations such as Rotary, Women’s Institutes and the Inner Wheel.
Locally we receive excellent support from, among others, Coulsdon Manor and Purley Rotary Clubs, Kenley Flyers and Old Coulsdon Cupcakes WIs and Purley Inner Wheel. We regularly receive donations of food and money from them and from individual members, and we have members of Purley and Coulsdon Manor Rotary on our team of volunteers.
During 2020 we have received two generous donations totalling £4,080 from Coulsdon Manor Rotary who say: “We congratulate you all in the ongoing work you undertake to help families in need.”
And we thank you, Coulsdon Manor, and all of the others for helping to make this happen through your continuing support.
Waitrose Coulsdon and Yodel Mitcham deliver food and cheques
Sun 20/12/20
Pictured (top): Sally, Team Manager, and Diane, Sales Assistant, at Waitrose Coulsdon hold up a cheque for the Food Hub for £333, which fellow Sales Assistant (and Food Hub volunteer) Louise delivered to us yesterday along with several large boxes of mince pies, chocolates, cheese straws and shortbreads and three trays of bread and morning pasty goods.
(below): Declan, Manager, and Jake, Warehouse Operative, (with driver Kris) from Yodel Mitcham presented two boxes of food and a cheque for £450 to yesterday’s session leader Zivile.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity, Waitrose and Yodel.
Hero volunteers come up trumps again with gifts of toys, candles, socks, smellies and books
Tues 15/12/20
Mother and daughter volunteers Salli and Laura have now raised £1,530 for the Food Hub from face coverings – made by Salli and sold by Laura.
Initially they used the money to buy food items that we were short of, more recently they switched to buying a selection of toys, candles, socks, smellies and books to make up Christmas gift bags for our clients. The first of these went out yesterday and more will be going out with the food parcels this Saturday.
We know the clients will appreciate all the love and care that’s gone into the gift bags.
Just getting busier and busier with more donations than ever before
Mon 14/12/20
Saturday morning was another busy session – with food parcels for 45 clients and family members delivered by our team of drivers to homes across Purley, South Croydon and Coulsdon…and another tremendous number of donations received, including well over 50 chocolate selection boxes! Thank you one and all!
As well as lots of individual donations, we also received big amounts of food, toiletries and Christmas fare from among others:
Barclays Bank in North End Croydon, St Peter’s Church South Croydon, St Barnabas Church Purley, Morrison’s Caterham, the One Tin bin in Brian Avenue Sanderstead, a road collection in Purley Bury Avenue, and Croydon Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults and Memory Service.
And thank you too to the staff of Lavender Oaks Care Home in Carshalton. They started off finding they had too many gifts of biscuits and decided to donate these to the Food Hub. Then they began making their own donations…and then there was a car full!
Just one click away – an easy way to donate at Christmas
Sat 12/12/20
If you’re shopping on Amazon this Christmas, you can now support us by adding an item from our December Wishlist to your basket! It just takes a single click on the item you’d like to donate, and it will be delivered to us direct.
Please click here to view our list. It includes corned beef, custard, washing up liquid, toothbrushes and Christmas chocolate selection boxes like in the photo. Thank you already to Judith, Georgina, Fiona and all those who have sent anonymously.
Thank you Gen…and everyone who’s bringing us donations – you are ALL stars!
Mon 7/12/20
Massive thanks to all the many people – individuals and families – who are bringing donations to us on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at Purley United Reformed Church.
One such visitor this week was Gen (pictured) who joyfully donated two bags of shopping on Saturday and then asked the session leader what things we were short of.
He mentioned a few items, thanked her and then carried on with his tasks. He said: “I was pleasantly surprised to see her come back 20 minutes later with two more bags of things I’d asked for. What a star!” Thank you Gen and everyone – you are all stars!!!
Mmm…cakes! And the bake-off stars are…Wallington High School for Girls
Fri 4/12/20
Despite being in lockdown, Wallington High School for Girls launched a virtual charity bake-off competition and sale in the summer…and this week sent the proceeds to the Food Hub.
Head Girl Antara explained: “We wanted to give back to a community who have been doing so much for people during this difficult time.
“We managed to raise £60 for the Food Hub with some really lovely and delicious entries!”
Our pictures show green heart cakes by Bethany, a chocolate cake made by Poppy and a vanilla strawberry cake by Tilly.
Thank you, Wallington Girls!
Churches, schools and ambulance team among those stepping up to the plate
Thurs 3/12/20
We were delighted to receive a large number of donations again yesterday (Wednesday) – including, from left/top:
- St Margaret’s Church Wallington,
- Coughlans Purley (with thanks to Branch Manager Blerina who put the bags together and Area Manager Andrea who delivered them), and
- South Croydon Ambulance Station.
Other donations came from St Peter’s Church South Croydon, Laleham Lea School and the yellow wheelie bin in Heathhurst Road, South Croydon, as well as lots from local families and individuals.
In addition we collected a donation from Aerodrome Primary School in Waddon where some pupils have been doing a project, ’10 Good Deeds’.
Once again, thank you all!
Thank you Waitrose Coulsdon and Sainsbury’s Warlingham and Purley…and Brian Avenue!
Mon 30/11/20
Pictured top: Our volunteers Debra, Judy and Emily received a bumper donation from Waitrose Coulsdon on Saturday, including mince pies and toiletries. With the donation came a note from the store’s staff: ‘Giving a little love!’
Sainsbury’s Warlingham and Purley Local stores are promoting donations to the Food Hub again this year through the company’s ‘Help Brighten a Million Christmases’ scheme, inviting customers to donate items in their collection boxes or money through their digital fundraising channels in store and online. Sainsbury’s will match £1 for £1 all donations banked by 14th December.
Pictured below: Young Freya displays some of the 24 Advent calendars that she and her mum Louisa brought among another big donation from a full yellow wheelie bin outside their home in Brian Avenue, Sanderstead, as part of the One Tin Initiative.
Among other donations on Saturday from lots of individuals and families was £80 from a couple who went without leaving their names.
WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR EVERY DONATION, BIG AND SMALL.
Towergate Riskline staff donate £310 worth of food
Fri 27/11/20
Big thanks to the staff of Towergate Riskline Croydon who donated £310 worth of food and other items, which were delivered on Wednesday by Karina, who organised the collection, and Craig.
Other donations received on Wednesday included from Chipstead Valley Primary School, as well as individuals and families.
Christmas biscuits and children’s chocolate treats among December’s requested items
Thu 26/11/20
Cartons of long life whole milk, jars of peanut butter and tins of plain meat including chicken and ham top the list of food items most needed for our clients in December.
Also listed are Christmas biscuits and children’s chocolate treats, along with tinned peas and carrots, tinned dessert fruit rice pudding, and packet custard requiring only water and small packs/boxes of tea bags. The non-food items we most need this month are small washing up liquid and adult toothbrushes.
To see the full list, please click here. THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE.
High number of food parcels and donations make it another very busy day
Sun 22/11/20
It was another very busy day at the Food Hub yesterday (Saturday). Our team of volunteers packed and delivered food parcels for 73 clients and family members, equivalent to a total of just over 650 meals – the highest number in a single session for several weeks.
They also received a gift of £100 from one donor and a cheque for £200 from another, plus donations of food and other items from, among others, Old Coulsdon Village Store and yellow bin collections in Brian Avenue, Sanderstead, and Purley Bury Avenue, Purley, as well from individuals and families.
Thank you everyone so much.
Food Hub volunteer Rev. Fiona becomes a Food Hub Trustee
Fri 20/11/20
Rev. Fiona Weaver has been co-opted as a Food Hub Trustee for a year to October 2021. She is Vicar of St Mark’s and St Swithun’s Churches Purley and in addition to her pastoral work is a volunteer driver with the Food Hub regularly delivering food parcels to clients’ homes.
Fiona has also had a yellow wheelie installed in St Mark’s for food donations from local people which she helps bring to us at Purley United Reformed Church.
Dannielle brings us donations from the yellow bin at Elmfield Vets
Thu 19/11/20
Dannielle Batten kindly delivered to us yesterday (Wednesday) the tins of food and other items donated in the One Tin Initiative yellow bin that she and husband Ian have installed outside Elmfield Vets in Elmfield Way, South Croydon.
We also received food yesterday from other local bins, including a delivery by Neil Bicknell from Heathhurst Road, Sanderstead.
We now know of at least half a dozen yellow bins that have set up in the Purley, Coulsdon and South Croydon areas inviting people to donate food to the Food Hub. Thank you to everyone involved in this initiative – and to the generous people making the donations.
‘Massive thanks for our fabulous packages’ say grateful family
Sun 15/11/20
A very grateful client sent us the following message after receiving food for herself and her sons yesterday (Saturday):
“Just want to say a Massive THANK YOU from my boys and me for the fabulous packages. We are very very grateful. When our circumstances change I will definitely give back to yourselves and the Community. You guys do an amazing job, truly Guardian Angels.”
And of course we wouldn’t be able to help this family – and many others like them – if it wasn’t for all the generous donations we receive from so many people and organisations in the local community.
A big thank-you to everyone at Coulsdon C of E Primary
Sat 14/11/20
Five-year-old Robbie and his mum Fiona Lee proudly present the multiple bags of Harvest food donated by the children, families and staff at Coulsdon C of E Primary School, which our volunteer Phil collected this morning (Saturday).
Fiona is Deputy Headteacher and Robbie is in Reception at the school. Our big thanks to everyone at Coulsdon.
Warlingham Park School’s Harvest donation filled our volunteer’s car
Thu 12/11/20
Yesterday (Wednesday) we collected the generous Harvest food donation from Warlingham Park School, completely filling the car of our volunteer Wendy.
Other donations received yesterday at Purley United Reformed Church included from St Swithun’s and St Mark’s churches, Monkey Nuts at Chipstead Valley Primary School and The Change Foundation, as well as from local families and individuals.
A huge thank-you to to you all.
A third One Tin bin outside Elmfield Vets in South Croydon
Wed 11/11/20
A third One Tin Initiative yellow bin collecting donations for the Food Hub has been installed outside Elmfield Vets in Elmfield Way, South Croydon, overseen there by Ian and Dannielle Batten.
The bin is available outside the premises for donations during working hours from Monday to Friday and also on Saturday morning from 9.00am to 11.00am.
We are very grateful, Ian and Dannielle.
One Tin bins quickly fill up with local residents’ donations
Mon 9/11/20
The One Tin Initiative, set up by Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid, invites local people to donate one tin of food to their local food bank.
Now two of the distinctive One Tin yellow bins have been installed in the south of the borough in support of the Food Hub: in Sanderstead, overseen by Louisa (pictured with daughter Freya); and in Coulsdon, overseen by Ben (pictured below). They brought us their donations on Saturday (7th November).
Louisa explains how she got involved: “My daughter Freya visited the Food Hub with her Cubs group last November and wanted to volunteer, so when Covid arrived, having a One Tin bin seemed a good opportunity.
“We have promoted our bin to neighbours and more recently to the local community in Sanderstead via Facebook groups, WhatsApp and Nextdoor. we’ve had a fantastic response with our bin filling up four times in 10 days and we have been delighted with everyone’s generosity. We plan to drop to the Food Hub every fortnight.”
Thank you ever so much, Louisa and Freya and Ben.
Bootload of food received from Beaumont Primary School
Thu 5/11/20
Thank you to everyone – children, families and staff – at Beaumont Primary School, Purley, for the bootload of food donations delivered to us by Jo Beeson, Finance and HR Officer, yesterday (Wednesday).
And big thanks also for the donations received yesterday from St John’s Church Old Coulsdon and St Margaret’s Carshalton Beeches.
Tinned corned beef & ham, long life whole milk and fish & meat paste top November’s list
Mon 02/11/20
Tins of cooked plain meat such as corned beef and ham, cartons of long life whole milk and jars of fish paste and meat paste head the list of food items most need for our clients and their families in November.
Also on our list are tins of rice pudding, tinned vegetables and packets of tea bags. Non-food items needed please are toilet rolls, small bottes of washing up liquid, unisex deodorant, toothpaste and sanitary pads. For the full list, please click here.
On behalf of our clients, thank you so much everyone, we are most grateful.
3,636 meals provided to clients and their family members in October
Sun 01/11/20
October saw food for 3,636 meals delivered to just over 400 Food Hub clients and family members, taking us past 40,000 meals in 2020 so far – already 10,000 more than in the whole of 2019.
This would not be possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers or the huge donations of food – and toiletries, baby products, etc – received from churches, schools and the local community, including increased numbers of family and individual donors. Thank you ALL.
‘What the Food Hub has managed to do is amazing…’
Sat 31/10/20
During October we wrote to our Ticket Partners – the agencies who refer clients to us – confirming that for the foreseeable future we will be continuing to deliver food parcels direct to clients’ homes rather than clients come to us, as they did before Covid-19. Several Ticket Partners wrote back to express their gratitude:
“What the Food Hub has managed to do is amazing, I am sure the volunteers are a welcome sight to those in need when they see them” …
“All the referrals I have made so far have given me good feedback and appreciate your support” …
“It is amazing you are still managing to do home deliveries – it is so important right now” …
“Well done for all that the team do – such a blessing to the community” …
“A massive thank you to the team for providing such a fantastic service.”
Food Hub to receive £333 from Waitrose Coulsdon’s Community Matters
Thu 29/10/20
Waitrose Coulsdon has chosen the Food Hub to be one of three local charities that will each receive £333 in the store’s Community Matters scheme for November. Thank you, Waitrose.
Croydon’s NEU teaching and support staff donate £1,000
Wed 28/10/20
The National Education Union’s Croydon District – which represents teachers and support staff across all education settings in the borough – has generously donated £1,000 to the Food Hub.
This is on top of a £500 donation in June. Dave Harvey, the treasurer, writes: “Our members are daily aware of the impact of food hunger on children’s concentration in lessons and on their engagement generally at school. Our donation is to support the really vital work that the Food Hub is doing in the community.”
Thank you very much, Croydon NEU.
More than 20 donations brought in yesterday – we are grateful for each one
Sun 25/10/20
Thank you so much to the 20 or more people who kindly brought in food donations to the Food Hub yesterday morning (Saturday). They included Theresa Paull (left in photo), Deputy Head of St Aidan’s Catholic Primary School, Coulsdon, who delivered the school’s Harvest collection, received by our volunteers Laura and Eddie.
Yesterday’s donations will be sorted and date-labelled by our two sorting teams on Monday ready for packing into food parcels to be delivered to clients on Wednesday. We remain thankful for each and every donation we receive – every item goes to a client and family in need at this time.
Churches’ and schools’ Harvest gifts are welcome boost to our food stocks
Sat 24/10/20
Harvest food donations from local schools and churches are a welcome source of items for the food parcels we provide for hard-pressed clients and their families.
The schools are featured in other items on this page, and the churches include: St Mary Magdalene with St Martin, Addiscombe; Coulsdon Methodist; St Mark’s, Woodcote, and St Swithun’s, Purley; St James’, Riddlesdown; Christ Church, Purley; St Paul’s United Reformed Church, South Croydon; Old Coulsdon Congregational; St Augustine’s, South Croydon; and Whitehorn Avenue Methodist, Coulsdon. Thank you every one!
Mufti day at Regina Coeli raises £198 for Food Hub and for Macmillan
Fri 23/10/20
Normally in the week before half term Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School, South Croydon, holds its Harvest Mass and the children, families and staff collect food donations for the Food Hub. But due to Covid-19 it wasn’t able to do so this year and instead had a mufti day for the children who paid £1 each. The money raised has been divided between ourselves and Macmillan Cancer Support, as the school was also unable to hold its Macmillan coffee morning. Thank you very much Regina Coeli for our £198.47 – we greatly appreciate your support.
Foresters children and families display their considerable generosity
Thu 22/10/20
Karen Derrick emailed us today from Foresters Primary School, Wallington: “As you can see from the above photo, we have received many kind donations from our children and their families. We could not hold our usual Harvest Festival as such this year, for obvious reasons, but families have still been more than generous. We would like to donate it all to Purley Food Hub…”
Many thanks indeed, Foresters!
Thank you Keston Primary School for your donation today
Wed 21/10/20
Thank you to everyone – children, families and staff – at Keston Primary School, Old Coulsdon, for your Harvest food donation delivered to us today…
St David’s families and staff collect amazing £1,046 for Food Hub
Tue 20/10/20
Food Hub volunteers Zivile and Stephen are pictured receiving Harvest food from St David’s School, Purley, on Saturday (18th Oct). The school had asked parents to donate money for Harvest with the intention of arranging a Sainsbury’s delivery to us with the proceeds. However, after collecting an amazing £1,046, the school bought food to make up a Harvest display in the school hall and then transferred the remaining money to the Food Hub’s bank account. Thank you to you all at St David’s.
A mountain of a delivery today from Kenley Primary School!
Mon 19/10/20
Kenley Primary School kindly delivered a mountain of food to us this morning, filling our two trolleys and nine more bags and boxes. Thank you to everyone at Kenley!
And big thanks also to the pupils and families and staff at Cumnor House School for Girls, Purley, for your Harvest collection organised by Head of Early Years and Food Hub volunteer Nicola Mearkle.
Thank you Oakwood for your Harvest donations
Thu 15/10/20
Thank you very much, pupils and families and staff at Oakwood School, Purley, for the minibus full of food and other items delivered to us at Purley United Reformed Church. yesterday. We are most grateful for all the generous Harvest donations that we are currently receiving from schools, churches and others, including Fennies Nursery, Purley, and The Change Foundation, Wallington.
Laleham Lea drops off over 350 items: pasta, tinned veg, cereals and more!
Wed 14/10/20
Laleham Lea School, Purley, dropped off their Harvest collection this morning: over 350 items including pasta, tinned vegetables, cereals and deodorant – and much more!
Head Teacher Karen Barry said: “We are delighted to help the Food Hub once again and I would like to thank all our families and staff for their generosity in these difficult times. Helping those in need is a key part of our Catholic ethos and we hope this donation helps in some small way to support the fantastic work the Food Hub does for the local community.”
Four new Trustees appointed at Food Hub’s AGM
Sat 10/10/20
Mark Dakin, Shade Odupelu, Terry Whittaker and Annabel Wright were appointed as Trustees at the Food Hub’s Annual General Meeting at Christ Church Purley on Thursday night (8th Oct). They replace two retiring Trustees, Derek Harris (Treasurer) and Judith Johnson, and fill two other vacancies. They were welcomed ‘on board’ by Trevor Jones, Chair of Trustees, who thanked Derek and Judith for their service.
Trevor and Helen Harris, who is temporarily standing down as Chair of the Management Committee, both paid tribute to the work of the Food Hub’s volunteers, particularly over the past six months of the coronavirus pandemic, and thanked churches, schools and the local community for their generous donations of food and money. Looking to the next six months, Trevor said the Food Hub would continue to operate as a food delivery service, delivering food parcels direct to the homes of clients and their families referred by ticket partner agencies.
Louise Willmer will be Acting Chair of the Management Committee and Joanna Walker succeeds Derek as Treasurer. The AGM was streamed live on our Facebook page by volunteer Rachael Nazarko and received 183 views during and since the meeting.
Follow the Food Hub’s AGM on Facebook this evening from 7.30pm
Thu 08/10/20
The Food Hub’s Annual General Meeting will go ahead this evening (Thursday) but we regret with essential business only and restricted numbers attending: the appointed voting members from the 12 Purley and Kenley churches, the existing and prospective new Trustees and those involved with the running of the meeting. For volunteers, friends and supporters who wish to follow the proceedings, the meeting will be live streamed on our Facebook page from 7.30pm.
Busiest ever September follows on from our busiest ever January to August
Thu 01/10/20
Last month was the busiest ever September at the Food Hub with 3,681 meals provided to just over 400 hard-pressed clients and family members. It followed on from our busiest ever January, February, March, April…through to and including August.
One thankful client wrote after receiving their food parcel: “Hi, just to say thank you so much. I really appreciate all that food, there was so much, I wasn’t expecting that much. But that little book [of Bible quotes and pictures] you packed and the prayer nearly had me tear up. You do a great job I’m so grateful, take care.”
October’s most-needed list is headed by fish/meat paste, tomatoes and cooked meat
Mon 28/09/20
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.
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.
We pass landmark of providing 200,000 meals for people in crisis since 2013
Wed 23/09/20
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.
Wilson’s delivers a minibus full of food and other donations
Wed 23/09/20
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…
Annual Report pays tribute to Food Hub volunteers with thanks too to all of our donors
Fri 18/09/20
The Food Hub’s Annual Report for 2019/2020 is available here (pdf). 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.
Children’s chocolate treats are added to our list of items needed in September
Fri 18/09/20
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!
Food bank volunteers are ‘truly unsung heroes,’ says Mayor of Croydon
Thu 03/09/20
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.
Hot chocolate, honey, tinned carrots & meat most needed in September
Tue 01/09/20
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.
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!
Busiest ever August takes us past 30,000 meals so far in 2020
Sat 29/08/20
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.
Client’s grateful sister sends £100 ‘thank-you’ food donation from Asda
Thu 27/08/20
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…
Sugar, custard, tinned carrots, potatoes & chicken head August food list
Sat 01/08/20
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.
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.
July was the sixth busiest month since the Food Hub began
Fri 31/07/20
July’s 3,735 meals for 4,125 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.
Reedham Park School children vote to give us their final fund raising
Wed 29/07/20
Debbie Russell, 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 failing pupil numbers and the uncertainties caused by coronavirus. Thank you Reedham Park, we greatly appreciate your generous act.
Salli makes masks which Laura sells to buy £250 of food
Thu 23/07/20
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.
THANK YOU x 3…!!!
Sat 18/07/20
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!
Sugar, carrots, pulses, milk and shampoo added to July’s most needed list
Thu 16/07/20
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.
Tins of potatoes, fruit and cooked meat are top of the list for July
Wed 01/07/20
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!
26,000 meals provided to clients and their families in the first half of 2020
Tue 30/06/20
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.
Wheelie bin installed at St Mark’s Church for food donations
Fri 19/06/20
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 CCMA WhatsApp group for your support with donations, and to Vicar Rev Fiona Weaver (pictured) for delivering the donations to us at Purley United Reformed Church.
Sugar, fruit juice and bottles of squash are added to updated June food list
Thu 18/06/20
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 from 10.00am-12.00noon. Thank you everyone.
It’s for yoo-hoo! Timely delivery from Yodel to the Food Hub
Mon 15/06/20
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!
Powerful support from YOUTH PWR INT’L
Tue 02/06/20
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.
Tins of cooked meat and tinned ready meals and fruit are most needed
Mon 01/06/20
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-12.00noon – come to the door at the end of the roadway along the left side of the church building. Thank you as always.
14,000-plus meals provided in the three months from March to May
Sun 31/05/20
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.’
Neighbourhood food collections provide a big boost
Thu 14/05/20
Pictured 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, while 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.
Thank you Londis Coulsdon in Chipstead Valley Road and owner Sudesh
Wed 13/05/20
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!
Jam, tins of mixed veg, tinned fruit and toilet rolls are added to May list
Tue 12/05/20
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 of 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!
Ready meals, potatoes, coffee and custard head May’s most-wanted list
Fri 01/05/20
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.
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.
Second busiest month in the Food Hub’s seven-year history
Thu 30/04/20
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.
Supermarket collection baskets full to the brim!
Thu 23/04/20
Thank you very much to everyone who is leaving donations of food, toiletries, etc, in our collection boxes 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.
Honey, tinned/packet potatoes & custard are new items on April food list
Sun 19/04/20
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.
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.
Big thank-you to our volunteers and food donors
Sat 11/04/20
A big thank-you to the team of volunteers on duty for the Food Hub on Wednesday (8 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.
Pasta, savoury spreads and coffee added to April’s most needed list
Thu 09/04/20
New items – pasta, savoury spreads and coffee – have now been added to our April Food List. We are currently 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.
Over 2,300 meals provided in a week
Wed 08/04/20
From today we have switched to Wednesday mornings for our food deliveries to clients and families in need in Purley, South Croydon, Coulsdon and Waddon.
Today food parcels were provided to 33 clients and 103 family members – that’s over 2,300 meals provided in the past week.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers and to everyone who has kindly brought in food donations (including Waitrose Coulsdon for another generous donation of fresh food today).
Food parcels provided today for 46 clients and 161 family members
Sat 04/04/20
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!
Milk, tea bags, tinned ready meals and tin openers top April’s most needed list
Fri 03/04/20
Items we most need this month to re-stock our shelves include 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.
Record month at the Food Hub with food provided for over 5,000 meals
Thu 02/04/20
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.
Food provided for 156 people at our busiest ever session
Mon 23/03/20
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.
What a team! Our Super Six swimmers raise a superb £1,120
Mon 16/03/20
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.
Honey, porridge, juice, size 6 nappies & toothpaste most needed in March
Sun 01/03/20
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. Thank you!
Busiest February to date with 3,400 meals provided
Sat 29/02/20
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’ need
Thank you to everyone at Iceland Wallington
Tue 25/02/20
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.
Milk, dried potatoes, pasta sauce and carrots top February’s most-wanted list
Sat 01/02/20
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.
Another 3,500 meals provided for hard-pressed clients and families
Fri 31/01/20
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.
Six items to focus donations on in January
Wed 01/01/20
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 and unisex shampoo. Thank you for your continued support.