For the first time in 2025, the Food Hub’s monthly meals total exceeded 3,000 again in March. After we provided 2,565 meals for 285 people in January, then 2,925 meals for 325 people in February, March saw the total of meals increase to 3,600 for 400 people, a rise of 23%.

So, after the quieter-than-usual first two months of the year, we are now expecting a busier spring as clients and their families who are already struggling with rising food prices, face increases in energy and water costs and council tax demands from April.

At four of our five Saturday sessions in March, food was provided for 50 or more people, including for over 70 people on 8th March. Salli who led the volunteer team that morning sent them a “massive thank you” afterwards, adding: “With 27 deliveries and one walk-in client, providing food for 75 people, a very efficient team was needed – and you rose to the challenge. Going the extra mile is all in a day’s work for Purley Food Hub!”

On 15th March, the 18-strong team packed and delivered food for 55 people at 17 clients’ homes, equivalent of just under 500 meals. Team leader Steve noted: “Special thanks to one driver and escort who kindly delivered to a client at 6.00pm when she inadvertently couldn’t be at home in the morning to receive her food parcel, also to another driver who brought us a carload of customers’ donations from Sainsbury’s Warlingham before going on to deliver food to two of the morning’s clients.”