The number of meals delivered is only part of the picture, however. We also provided non-perishable supplies to three local Food Stops, where clients pay £3.50 for about £20 of provisions which include fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.

The Food Stops at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church, Purley, and St Francis Church, Selsdon, receive a carload each on alternate weeks, and we make monthly deliveries to the Fieldway Food Stop in New Addington.

We also make sure that our direct clients are not forgotten once they have received, usually, four emergency food deliveries from the Food Hub. We follow up by writing to the agency who referred the client to us to review together their individual circumstances.

For some clients who are still in crisis we will provide further emergency food parcels. For most we will direct them to their nearest Food Stop for ongoing support. If it helps the client, we can offer some initial help with the £3.50 and also provide pre-paid bus tickets through our team of Client Support Volunteers.

In addition we ask the agency to pass on to the client some further information which we hope they will find useful. This includes details of two food sharing/saving mobile phone apps – Olio and Too Good To Go – which can provide free or discounted food.

We also ask the agency to advise the client of cost of living support available through Croydon Council (details at www.croydon.gov.uk/get-help-rising-cost-living/help-households) and make sure the client receives a copy of our leaflet, Worrying about money? which gives comprehensive information about the the range of support services available in Croydon.