Food bank is handing out 15,000 meals a week to struggling families during lockdown after collecting up to FIVE tonnes of binned groceries from supermarkets
- The Community Food Bank at St Saviour’s in Sunbury feeds 900 families a week
- Some 50 volunteers collect up to five tonnes of binned groceries to make meals
- Food bank produced up to 6,000 meals a week before the Covid-19 pandemic
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A food bank is dishing out more than 15,000 free meals a week to struggling families during lockdown – using food thrown out by supermarkets.
A team of 50 volunteers from the Community Food Bank at St Saviour’s in Sunbury collect up to five tonnes of leftover food each week and use it to cook healthy, balanced meals.
These meals are then delivered to 900 families who are struggling to make ends meet across south west London amid the coronavirus lockdown, which has been in place in Britain since March 23.
Claire Hopkins, who begins the operation at 5am each day, estimates that one in nine families in the area will miss a meal or go to bed hungry on a daily basis, something she describes as an ‘injustice’ considering ‘there is an absolute mountain of food being binned and you have people who are starving and need food.’
Before the pandemic, the food bank produced up to 6,000 meals per week for 400 families being supported in Feltham and the surrounding areas.
A team of 50 volunteers from the Community Food Bank at St Saviour’s in Sunbury (pictured) collect up to five tonnes of leftover food each week and use it to cook healthy, balanced meals
Pictured: Piles of surplus food seen inside St Saviour’s Sunbury church which was collected from supermarkets
Since the lockdown hit in March this number has more than doubled, with around 900 families a week relying on the service to get by and around 15,000 meals made.
Mrs Hopkins, who became manager of the food bank three years ago, now partners with local supermarkets to feed those struggling amid the coronavirus crisis.
Each day, volunteers visit stores including Costco, Marks & Spencer and Tesco to collect everything from fruit and vegetables to cakes and meat which are just past their sell-by-date and would be heading to landfill.
The majority of the families Mrs Hopkins helps have been referred to the service, but she said the demographic of those seeking assistance has changed dramatically since lockdown.
Those who were on zero-hour contracts, small business owners, self-employed construction workers and beauty therapists who have lost work due to the crisis are among those now requiring support.
These meals (pictured) are delivered to 900 families who are struggling to make ends meet across south west London amid the coronavirus lockdown
Each day, volunteers visit stores including Costco, Marks & Spencer and Tesco to collect everything from fruit and vegetables to cakes and meat which are just past their sell-by-date
Claire Hopkins (pictured), who begins the operation at 5am each day, estimates that one in nine families in the area will miss a meal or go to bed hungry on a daily basis
She said: ‘A lot of these workers tell us they’ve never done anything like this before and they are mortified. But a food bank is for everyone and we will help anyone.
‘It’s a bit like Ready Steady Cook when it comes to preparing the meals – we work with the ingredients we have on the day. One day it could be chicken, mash and vegetables, the next day it could be burgers.’
The food bank uses facilities in Ashford and Stanwell to prepare and freeze the meals before including them in food bags which are handed out.
These packages and will include a number of other items such as tinned food, cake, fruit and vegetables.
Mrs Hopkins, who lives in Feltham said: ‘My days begins at 5am with sending out emails and then getting the children ready for school. We then go to our local, partner supermarkets to collect surplus food and then return to the site to sort and prepare the food.
‘In the afternoons, we will serve people and give out the food, before cleaning down and packing down for the day.
The food bank uses facilities in Ashford and Stanwell to prepare and freeze the meals before including them in food bags which are handed out to families
Pictured: Tina Baker working at a food bank based at St Saviour’s Sunbury church that produces 15,000 meal a week for people in need
‘I leave around 3pm to pick up my children most days, but it is a 24/7 job. When I get home, I will continue with admin work and speaking to various different people.
‘There is nothing else I would rather do. This is a rewarding job and I love it.’
Mrs Hopkins, who is a key worker, added she is thankful to staff at Oak Hill Academy in Feltham, who look after her twin boys, William and Lewis, 11, so she can concentrate on her work at the food bank.
She said: ‘Allowing people like me to continue with my work means that I am able to help so many families in our community. I am so, so grateful!
‘Over the Easter break and even the Bank Holidays, the staff at Oak Hill went above and beyond the call of duty to care for the children of key workers.
‘The sports and activities provided by the Premier Education team during the Easter break were fantastic.
‘Without the phenomenal support from the team at Oak Hill, who have effectively been providing free childcare for my twin Year 6 boys, I would not have been able to do what I do.’
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