Support Our Local Foodbank While Shopping

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Permanent collection points open in supermarkets around borough

 

Did you know you can now support Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank while you are shopping?

Permanent food collection points are now open at the Tesco Hammersmith Superstore, Sainsbury's in Townmead Road, Sainsbury's at Fulham Broadway Tube Station, and at Budgens in Munster Road.

Food can also be dropped off at the Halifax Building Society in King Street, and at Winkworths W6 on the last Thursday of every month.  Some local schools and churches also have drop-off points and there are special bins at all ther borough's libraries.

The organisation provides residents who find themselves at crisis point with emergency food supplies for three days and, with the number of people seeking help from foodbanks rising nationally, they are constantly in need of help.

Cllr Sue Fennimore, H&F Council's cabinet member for social inclusion, says: "Local foodbanks are a product of the challenging circumstances that far too many H&F residents now face. We are determined to do what we can as a council to prevent people needing to use foodbanks, but whilst they do we are proud that so many residents have stepped forward to provide this critical support.

"Foodbanks depend on volunteers who selflessly give their time and residents who generously donate food. Although we hope that one day soon they will not be needed, foodbanks are an example of what can be achieved when residents come together."

People living, working or studying in H&F can support local foodbanks by donating non-perishable, in-date food such as tinned goods and long-life packaged food. H&F Foodbank's team of volunteers will then sort the donations and give them out to those in need at special distribution points.

An up-to-date list of H&F Foodbank's most needed food items is available on its website - www.hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk - where you will also find more information about the service, including how you can help support it.

The foodbank say as well as this regular shopping list, as stock depletes, they regularly run low on certain items and currently need:

• small bags of sugar
• tinned vegetables
• tinned rice puddings
• tinned or long life sponge puddings
• tinned meat. 

They add that they currently have a plentiful supply of baked beans, tinned tomatoes and pasta/rice, adding thank you!

 

At present, H&F Foodbank operates 'cafe-style', offering hot and cold drinks and home-made cakes, from two sites in the borough:

• Fulham Distribution Centre, Christ Church Fulham, 67 Studdridge Street, Fulham, SW6 3TD. It is open every week on Tuesday from 10.30am to 1pm and Friday from 2pm to 4.30pm.
• Shepherds Bush Distribution Centre, St Simons, Rockley Road, Shepherds Bush, W14 0DA. It is open every week on Thursday from 1pm to 3pm.

Residents relying on this valuable service receive food in exchange for foodbank vouchers, which are given out by care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police who identify an individual or family in need. Visitors to the foodbank will also be directed, where appropriate, to relevant agencies who can offer further support.

Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank organiser Daphine Aikens said: "Many people today are struggling on reduced incomes whilst also facing the reality of rising living costs.

"For those without a financial safety net, a sudden crisis can leave you unable to feed yourself - or your children.  We have been shocked by the numbers of people requiring a little extra support, but also overwhelmed by the generosity of the local community."

In the 2012/13 financial year the local foodbank gave food to 2,619 people, and during the 2013/14 financial year, it distributed enough food to prepare up to ten meals for almost 4,200 people.

For general enquiries about Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank, you can call 0207 751 2248, email info@hffb.org, or visitwww.hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk. Alternatively you can follow it on Twitter - www.twitter.com/hffoodbank - and keep up-to-date via Facebook -www.facebook.com/hammersmithfulhamfoodbank.

 

August 15, 2014