Demand Surges for Help from Foodbank this Winter

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Residents asked to help by donating food or toiletries over Christmas

 

Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank is seeing a 'dramatic' increase in the number of people benefiting its service this winter - and is asking those of us in happier circumstances to help boost its stores.

“With the chaotic roll-out of Universal Credit, new benefits caps, and the cold weather setting in, more people are being faced with stark choices between heating or eating,” said Daphine Aikens, CEO of the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank (HFFB).

“In recent months we have seen a dramatic increase in numbers of people benefiting from our food parcels,” Daphine added. “Almost 7,000 people have sought our help between 1 April and 16 December – which is nearly double the number of people who needed help during the same period in 2016."

Winter can be a stressful time for families, especially during the Christmas holidays, when children are unable to get free school meals and are no longer in warm classrooms during the day.

The Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank, which is part-funded by H&F Council, is most in need of:

• Tinned fruit and vegetables
• Long life juice
• UHT and powdered milk
• Tinned rice pudding and other desserts
• Tinned meat
• Pasta sauce in jars
• Toiletries

There are collection points across the borough, including Hammersmith Town Hall, libraries, supermarkets and Fulham Broadway Shopping Centre.

For more details, or if you would prefer to make a cash donation to the Foodbank, click here or call 020 7731 3693 or email: info@hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk.

To receive a food package from H&F Foodbank people need a voucher which can picked up from a range of different organisations, including social workers, GPs, the Citizens Advice Bureau and Children’s centres.

The charity has three centres, each in a different part of borough

White City Distribution Centre, The Hub @ 75 is at 75 Bloemfontein Road, White City W12 7DA. It is open every week on Mondays, 12.30pm - 3pm; Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm and Saturdays, 10am - 12.pm.

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.

Shepherd's Bush Distribution Centre, St Simons, Rockley Road, Shepherds Bush, W14 0DA. It is open every week on Thursday from 1pm to 3pm.

For general enquiries about Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank, email info@hffb.org, or visit the website. Alternatively you can follow it on Twitter and keep up-to-date via Facebook .

 

December 21, 2016