3,330 meals delivered in September, following our busiest August since 2013.
September was a month of two halves at the Food Hub – four quieter-than-usual Wednesday sessions, each followed by a very busy Saturday session.
After our busiest August on record, over the eight September sessions we provided food for 370 people, equivalent to 3,330 meals, taking us past 30,000 meals in 2024 so far.
As predicted, during August we had an increased number of families having difficulties feeding their children during the school holidays.
Over the month we provided food for 4,185 meals for 465 people, making it our busiest month of 2024 so far – 1,300 meals more than July and 1,000 more than August 2023.
With thanks to our wonderful volunteers...
We have been delighted to welcome several new volunteers recently, including:
- Andrea, a neighbour of regulars John & Sally, who joined our ranks of delivery drivers;
- Clare, who delivered food on 28th August as part of a work volunteering scheme;
- Connie who did her taster session as a packer on 31st August.
- Kiya, a student from Riddlesdown Collegiate who packed on Wednesdays and helped sort donations on Mondays during the school holidays;
- Maureen who delivered food to clients and helped pack food parcels;
- And it’s a warm welcome back to packer Mandy who is on the rota again from this month.
...and to our many faithful supporters...
As well as thanking our volunteers, we are immensely grateful to the supporters who regularly bring in donations of food, toiletries and household essentials.
During September we welcomed donations from 25 churches, 13 businesses and community groups, one school and 26 individuals and families who left their names, plus many more who gave anonymously.
Our friends from Coulsdon-based company Lloret were on hand again to help with delivering food to clients on the 18th. Louise, Sophie, Alex and James are pictured preparing to load food parcels for delivery.
We were pleased too to have Alvero and his support worker Michelle join us from the Waddon 16-19 Pathway Project
Alvero joined our Monday stock sorting sessions for work experience. He enjoyed himself so much that he said he’d love to come more than once a week!
Gill has been dropping off donations from St Mary’s Church, Old Coulsdon, for over three years. Most supporters deliver contributions by car or on foot, but Gill usually travels by bike. Pictured: Team leader Helen helps Gill unpack her delivery on 31st August.
(below) Ernest, who is doing the Duke of Edinburgh’s silver award, presented an £80 donation – £72 from car washing for family members plus “the last of my birthday money” – to volunteer Rachael with (l-r) Steve, Bridget, Chalene and Yomi.
. .and of course to our super-generous donors
Children at the Gurmat holiday camp, held by the Sikh community’s Siri Guru Singh Sabha Croydon Gurdwara, collected donations for the Food Hub, delivered to us by Elizabeth Ash from Croydon Communities Consortium.
Trustee Surinder Kaur Sahota said the week-long camp had the theme of “selfless service with no expectation of reward”. She explained: “One of our Guru’s teachings is Vand Chakhna: share whatever you have. It was a way of teaching our children to respect and value others at the time of need.”
Pictured: Elizabeth with SGSS priests Bhai Sukhvinder Singh and Bhai Japnoor Singh.
Infohealth Pharmacy in Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, are generous and long-standing supporters of the Food Hub, and deliver a range of toiletries to us every month.
Here pharmacist Seema Patel is met by volunteer Chalene as she delivers dozens of toilet rolls and bars of soap in September.
Thank you everyone! Every tin, packet, jar and £ donated makes a real difference to someone in crisis.