4,240 meals for 470 people in October take the year’s total to date to more than 30,000. 

October was our busiest month of the year so far, with food provided to 470 people, equivalent to 4,240 meals. It was our busiest month since August 2024, and took this year’s meals total to date to more than 30,000.

After several weeks of low stock levels at the Food Hub we were delighted – and hugely grateful – to receive a bumper crop of Harvest food donations from our supporting schools, churches, community groups, businesses, families and individuals.

During October’s nine Wednesday and Saturday food delivery sessions our teams provided food for 50-plus people seven times: starting with 59 on Wednesday 1st, 62 a week later, then 78 on the 11th, including several large families.

One client receiving food that day said: “Thank you so much I have tears in my eyes, things have been awful of late and your kindness means so much.”

On Saturday 25th the 21 clients included a family of five in dire straits after mum didn’t receive her expected salary payment, and a young woman, new to the area, who told our driver’s escort her accommodation had no cooking facilities and nowhere to put her clothes. Julia Lee, who heads our Client Support Volunteers, arranged for one of the team to contact her after the weekend.

On Saturday 18th the drivers/escorts included regular driver Chunhua and daughter Grace and four of Chunhua’s work colleagues from energy sector support company DNV, Daniel, Ankor, Hien and Aseem.

volunteer team and DNV oct 2025
Special delivery: Aseem, Hien, Ankor and Daniel from DNV with Food Hub volunteers Chunhua, Ian, Sarah, Jess, Andrea, Zahra, Bridget and Rachael.

DNV encourages its staff teams to support local organisations in its corporate social responsibility work … as does David Lloyd Club off Purley Way.

david lloyd gym oct 2025General Manager Rachel, pictured with Assistant General Manager Oli, asked if her team could volunteer with us (they are due to make deliveries for the first time at the end of November) and also to host one of our collection baskets at the club. The basket was up and running at reception from 18th October and Rachel included our monthly food list in the club’s newsletter to their nearly 7,800 members.