A big thank-you to everyone who responded so generously to our October appeal to meet the continuing pressures on our stock levels after a very busy summer.

During the past month we received Harvest collections from 18 schools and pre-schools/nurseries plus donations from nearly 30 churches.

There were also contributions from uniformed groups, care homes, workplaces and others as well as more from individuals and families.

“Your generosity will be very greatly appreciated by our clients and their families over these coming weeks in the build-up to Christmas,” says our Stock Controller, Louise Willmer.

Our Top 10 priority items for November are headed by tinned carrots, peas and sweetcorn, jars of pasta sauce and packet soup in individual sachets. Small bottles of fruit squash are also on our list together with tins of dessert fruit and rice pudding and packet/tinned custard.

Three non-food items especially requested are adult & child toothbrushes, small bottles/bars of unisex shampoo and bars of soap.

Click here to view this month’s full list. To have the list sent direct to your inbox at the start of each month, just email steve.purleyfoodhub@gmail.com.

We are always very pleased to receive donations on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 9.00am – 12.00noon at our base at Purley United Reformed Church (next to Purley Hospital) or they can be dropped off at any of our in-store and roadside collection points listed here. In case of difficulty, please get in touch and we can arrange to collect your donations from you.

Your donations not only enable us to provide emergency help to our own clients and their families but also mean we can support partner organisations like Purley Food Stop at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church and St Francis Food Stop in Monks Hill, Selsdon, where many of our clients move on to for further food help if they need it.

To date, as a result of everyone’s continued generosity, we have provided food for more than 40,000 people – equivalent to over 370,000 meals – since the Food Hub started in 2013. THANK YOU ALL – WE COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.