November was a month of two halves…
yet still with 3,600 more meals provided
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Last month was again a story of two halves: very busy Saturdays followed by much quieter Wednesdays. In total in November we provided food for around 400 people - equivalent to 3,600 meals.
While at the four Wednesday sessions we provided food for an average of 22 people, on the five Saturdays we provided for around 62 people per session.
It means that so far in 2025, with our traditionally busiest month to come in December, we have provided 34,400 meals for 3,825 very grateful clients/family members.
However, each of the nine sessions was still eventful in its own way. For example, on Saturday 22nd November David Mendonca, president of Coulsdon Manor Rotary Club, and John Power, the treasurer, dropped in to present a cheque for £2,000 for us to share with the Food Stop at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church. They were pleased to see the Food Hub in action and to hear about how we operate closely with the Food Stop.
Session leader Helen receives the cheque from Rotary Club president David and treasurer John with team members Catherine, Brian, Mimi, Juliette and Andrea.
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After we sent the club our thank you certificate, former club president and Food Hub volunteer John Broom replied: “Thank you for sending me a copy of the certificate.
All the political parties say they want to end homelessness but I have not heard any politician say they will end the need for food banks. I am sorry to say I think Purley Food Hub will be here for many years to come and I hope Coulsdon Manor Rotary Club will be here to continue to support you.”
On Wednesday 26th, we were pleased to have seven staff from David Lloyd Club Purley, led by General Manager Rachel Nott and Assistant GM Oli Anthony, deliver food parcels to clients for the first time as part of a corporate volunteer drive. They also brought in bagfuls of items donated by club members in the Food Hub’s collection basket.
David Lloyd Purley general manager Rachel (far right) with colleagues Kieron, Oli, Mia, Bobby, Ashley and Charlotte and our team leader Clare and volunteers Louise and Fiona.
And at the sorting session on Monday 24th, Euan Lee, Warehouse Manager, delivered boxloads of surplus stock from Caterham & District Foodbank (pictured). They included breakfast cereals, pasta sauce, tinned meat meals, jam and honey, tinned rice pudding and tinned tomatoes…all on our November most needed list!
Euan had emailed us a few days earlier to ask if we could use Caterham’s surplus items and we quickly replied back: “YES PLEASE!” In return our Stock Controller Louise Willmer told Euan that if Caterham have any shortages of items themselves in the future, to contact us first.
Working closely with similarly minded organisations, such as the Food Stops and other local food banks, is a key part of how the Food Hub operates, and we are also very grateful for the support we receive from organisations like the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP).
Julia Lee, who heads up our Client Support team, took up SVP Purley’s offer to provide help to clients needing extra support, to ask if they could assist a client and his adult son living in dire conditions. Lijuba Lo Bello, President of SVP Purley, based at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, told her:
“Our team has made contact with him and assessed what are his more urgent needs. We have helped by replacing his mattress and bedding, as they were in terrible conditions. We are also looking at either repairing or replacing the washing machine, as it has been broken for a long time and the gentleman washes his clothes by hand. I will keep you posted.”
As Julia replied: “Thank you so much, Lijuba and your team, for the support you have given [him]. It is hugely appreciated and will have made such a difference to him.”
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Christmas meal ingredients most needed this month
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Items as near as we can provide for a traditional Christmas meal for our clients and their families make up December’s most wanted list.
These are headed by tins of plain chicken and ham, packet and tinned potatoes and tinned peas and carrots, followed for dessert by tinned fruit, puddings, jellies and packet custard.
And to add a festive touch, we are also asking for small packets of Christmas biscuits and children’s chocolate/sweet treats.
Completing our Top Ten priority items are cartons of long life whole milk, small bottles of squash...and small bottles of washing up liquid.
Click here to view the list in full. To have it sent with our monthly newsletter directly to your inbox at the beginning of each month, please email steve.purleyfoodhub@gmail.com.
We are open to receive donations at Purley United Reformed Church, next to Purley Hospital, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9.00am to 12.00midday (except 24th December).
If it's more convenient, you can take them to any of our in-store and roadside collection points listed here. Or in cases of real difficulty, we may be able to arrange to collect your donation from your home - please email purleyfoodhub@gmail.com or text 07546 635295.
Your donations enable us to provide not only emergency help to our own clients and their families but also support to the two local Food Stops - at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church, Purley, and St Francis Church, Monks Hill, Selsdon - where many of our clients move on to for further help should they need it.
Over the past 12 years, through everyone's continued generous support, we have been able to provide food for over 400,000 meals for more than 45,000 people.
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Chair gives update on Food Hub’s future operation
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The working group set up to look at the future operation of Purley Food Hub, met again on 3rd November, followed closely by meetings of the Trustees and the Management Committee. Trevor Jones, Chair of Trustees who is chairing the working group, provides this latest update to the Food Hub’s volunteers and supporters:
At our AGM on 2nd October and also in last month’s Update, I spoke about the need to consider the Food Hub’s future operation in light of forthcoming changes at Purley United Reformed Church (URC), where we have been based since the start in 2013.
Following the working group’s initial meetings, and also the Management Committee and Trustees, we have had a preliminary look at a number of options. These range from staying at the URC to moving elsewhere such as to an industrial unit in the southern part of the borough. Carrying on operating the same as we are is not viable due to the changes at the URC. There are other options but more questions needing to be answered.
For the industrial unit option, we would require 150-200 square metres which is the area we use at the URC. This could cost up to £30,000 a year, which would seriously deplete our cash reserves. There may be cheaper options available.
Our current front runner is to stay at the URC but use only rooms 1, 2 and 3 at the back of the building. Staying at the URC in some form is the least disruptive option and would mean moving our shelving area from inside the church to room 3; the calculations have been made and the shelving will fit. Occupying rooms 2 and 3 is unlikely to increase our hire costs, but the church’s children’s materials would need to be relocated, and a small team from the URC is working on this.
The plan, as it is at present, would mean using room 1 to receive clients who would come by appointment to collect their food parcels and could then spend time with our Client Support team or others to discuss their needs, much like we did before COVID. Having clients visiting again in person would be welcome and mean no further deliveries by car, except in exceptional circumstances.
At present we use room 1 on a Monday morning for sorting, labelling and receiving donations and on Wednesdays to receive donations. We could use room 1 on one of these days to welcome clients but, if demand exceeded the number of clients we could support, we may need to find another day we could welcome clients that fits in with other URC users.
On a Saturday morning room 1 is currently hired out to another group who are vulnerable, so we will need to think carefully about what happens on a Saturday which is also our busiest day.
This is only an outline plan and the Management Committee will be trialling it beginning late March or early April 2026. Hitches along the way could mean changes in the plan, and even when first operating, changes may still have to be made.
We need to have a workable operation in place by the time the changes at the URC are made, so if we start this plan in April 2026 it will give us time to adapt if aspects are not working out as hoped.
I ask for your continued patience as the working group, Management Committee and Trustees work through the options and details. The working group will meet next in late January/early February, and I will update you with more information afterwards.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please email me at pfhchairoftrustees@pfoodhub.uk, or Louise Willmer, Management Committee Chair, at louisewillmer@btinternet.com.
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Birthday boy Teddy comes bearing gifts galore
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For the fourth year, instead of receiving birthday presents Teddyasked his friends coming to his party to bring a food donation each for the Food Hub…and he and his mum Kristine and dad Pablo delivered two trolleyloads of items to us on Saturday 29th November. Teddy, who is 10 on 17th December, says:
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I started doing this when I was 7 and it’s become one of the most important parts of my birthday. I know some families nearby don’t always have enough to eat, and that makes me sad because everyone should have food on their table.
Birthdays usually mean getting lots of things, but I already have what I need and I want my birthday to help someone who might be having a hard time.
When we give food, we’re not just giving things…we’re giving someone a bit of hope, a bit of comfort, and a reminder that people care about them. That matters to me a lot.
Thanks to all my friends for helping me make my birthday mean something bigger. It makes me really happy to know that together we can make someone’s day a little brighter. Love, Teddy.
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Car Run bacon butties serve up a sizzling £1,533
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Christ Church Purley was once again an unofficial pit stop for the annual Veteran Car Run from London to Brighton on Sunday 2nd November, with 177 vehicles stopping to take advantage of the facilities.
Church members served 400 bacon butties, 100 vegetarian and vegan rolls and 600 hot drinks to drivers, passengers and spectators…and from everyone’s donations Christ Church sent the Food Hub afterwards £1,533.70.
One participant summed up the feelings of many when he contacted the church the say after the car run:
Dear All. Yesterday morning I was just one of hundreds who called in at your church for a very, very welcome “stop”. You have no idea how welcome a sight it is to see all your team of helpers guiding us into the car park with a cheery welcome and the offer of refreshments to warm us up and give us the opportunity to stretch our legs.
Thank you all so much for your hospitality, hard work, prayers and wishes for a safe onward journey to Brighton. We appreciate it enormously and the bacon butties are delicious!
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More delivery drivers urgently needed
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We urgently need more volunteer drivers and escorts to deliver food parcels to our clients on Wednesday and Saturday mornings: weekly, fortnightly or monthly - whichever is best for you!
Our drivers and escorts are the Food Hub’s eyes and ears to report any concerns about clients’ situations. One driver recently relayed back about how a dad with two small children was really struggling and we have arranged for him to receive some extra food parcels.
We also need help with occasional pick-ups from schools at Harvest or Christmas time or from supporters who can’t take their donations to our drop-off points.
Full details from Salli Ransom, Volunteer Co-ordinator, at pfh.vol@pfoodhub.org.uk or text 07546 635295.
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Not too late to support Come Dine With Jesus
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Over the first two weeks of December, the Food Hub’s volunteers will be delivering Aldi gift cards to 219 clients/families nominated by agencies as part of our Come Dine With Jesusproject.
And on Saturday 29th November 61 children from 24 families attended a crafts and tea event at Purley Baptist Church and each chose a toy and received a chocolate selection box as part of the Toys For Joy scheme.
A big thank you to everyone who has kindly contributed towards the cost of the Come Dine With Jesus vouchers (the value is £50 for a single person and £75 for a family). It’s not too late to make a donation: please click here to go to our Stewardship fundraising page or scan the QR code. Thank you very much.
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Donations received in November
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The age range of our supporters spans almost exactly 100 years. Alison, aged 103, is a resident at Abbeyfield House, Purley(and former Food Hub volunteer), who donated food at Abbeyfield’s Harvest Festival service in October.
And Ruby, aged 4, brought food with her dad Jordan on Saturday 15th November (pictured). Jordan said:
“Myself every month and my daughter on occasion will review your wish list every month, go to Aldi and fill up a trolley full of the necessities needed for that month. We have both found a great pleasure in doing so and it has taught my daughter the importance of giving to those in need.”
On Saturday 29th Robyn from the Renaissance office block in Dingwall Road, East Croydon, delivered three boxes of Advent calendars collected by employees of the companies based in the building. It meant the team could include the calendars with the food parcels going out that morning - perfectly timed for tomorrow, 1st December!
Thank you, Ruby and Jordan, and Robyn and Renaissance, and EVERYONE who donated items in November. The list included:
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0-19 Service, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
8th Purley Brownies
Caterham & District Foodbank
Coulsdon Hygiene Bank
Coulsdon Manor Rotary Club
David Lloyd Purley
Infohealth Pharmacies, Coulsdon
Inner Wheel Club of Croydon
Lloret, Coulsdon
Purley Cross Women’s Institute
Renaissance, East Croydon
Women’s Circle, St Mark’s Church
INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES
Ahmed Family
Alma
Anthony & Judith
Gareth
Glorie & Edwin
Jacob
Jordan & Ruby
Lucy
Margaret
Martin & Eleanor
Nalyni & Saieshwar
Noel
Oliver
Rejoice
Richard
Rob & Sue
Simon
Teddy
Theya, Siroj & Tara
Tony
Zoe
COLLECTION POINTS/YELLOW BINS
Bankside, South Croydon
Cumberlands, Kenley
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East Croydon Residents Association (Mead Way)
Heathhurst Road, Sanderstead
Riddlesdown Avenue, Purley
CHURCHES
All Saints, Kenley
Christ Church, Purley
Coulsdon Methodist
Croham Road Baptist, South Croydon
Emmanuel, South Croydon
Grace Vineyard, Purley
Montpelier, South Croydon
Purley Baptist
Purley United Reformed
Sanderstead Methodist
St Aidan’s, Coulsdon
St Andrew’s, Coulsdon
St Antony’s, Hamsey Green
St Gertrude’s, South Croydon
St James’, Riddlesdown
St John the Baptist, Purley
St John’s, Old Coulsdon
St Margaret of Scotland, Carshalton Beeches
St Mark’s, Woodcote
St Mary’s, Old Coulsdon
St Peter’s, South Croydon
St Swithun’s, Purley
Woodmansterne Baptist
SCHOOLS
Atwood Primary, Sanderstead
Thomas More Catholic, Purley
STORES & SUPERMARKETS
Morrisons, Caterham
Morrisons, Fiveways, Croydon
Sainsbury’s, Warlingham
Sainsbury’s Local, Purley
Waitrose, Sanderstead
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As well as all of these, we received other unrecorded donations from supporters who wished to stay anonymous.
As we never tire of saying, we are always grateful for every can, jar, packet, bottle and pound that we receive. Each item and each pound goes to support someone locally who is going through a time of crisis.
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Please keep in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas time:
▶Our clients and their family members and everyone else in our local community facing unemployment, ill health, isolation or money worries, especially those unable to afford enough to eat. That they may know hope where before there was hopelessness.
At the same time:
▶Give thanks for the amazing generosity and partnership of so many schools, churches, businesses, community organisations, individuals and families, and for the Food Hub’s volunteers who give so unstintingly of their time and energy.
We continue to pray:
▶“Father God, we long for that day when food poverty comes to an end and we can close down…but until then, we commit ourselves to serving you in your Food Hub. It’s yours and we ask you to guide us, step out in faith and always to trust you.”
The Food Hub’s Trustees and Management Committee send to all of our volunteers, donors, friends and supporters:
Our very best wishes for a Blessed Christmas and
God’s richest blessings for the New Year.
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