Call For Christmas Donations to Local Foodbank

Demand has increased from Chiswick area

Hounslow Community Foodbox has appealed to Chiswick residents to urgently donate food as it is very short of supplies, due to rising demand for its foodboxes. Donations can be left at the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Chiswick (behind the Town Hall)

There are increasing requests for help from people living in Chiswick- at a rate of about 20 a month.

They also welcome donations of either cash, cheque or bank transfer- use gift aid! Contact 07718263614 or email info@hounslowfoodbox.org.uk

Spokesperson Oonah Lacey said that demand from W4 has increased and they were seeing more homeless and those that are struggling with universal credit and generally not enough money. The hospital discharge process has identified a number of people that need help as well .

"We are now pushing for cash donations because the Christmas kindness is great but we need to be able to keep the service going in the new year . I want people to see Foodbox is not just for Christmas, because there is no indication that demand will reduce."

Hounslow Community Foodbox was set up in 2013 and is based in Brentford because the Council provided an unused community centre as a storage and collection point. However one of their referral partners is Chiswick Citizens Advice Bureau and they have agreed that they can have a drop off point in their office in Chiswick Town Hall.

Spokesperson Oonah Lacey said that those who use the system come from all walks of life. They can be people who are out of hospital with physical or mental health issues, or bereaved people who are short of money, or even people in affluent areas who may have the asset of a large house but a very small pension and cannot make ends meet. There are also several families with young children who rely on the food boxes to get them through the week.

"We do have a lot of help from corporate bodies who donate food and staff often come and volunteer. We are not funded by anyone so we are dependent on people to help us and at the moment we are under a lot of pressure as demand is increasing.Recipients being given a voucher by one of FoodBox’s referral partners. Recipients can then exchange this voucher for a food package.

FoodBox’s referral partners are professionals or volunteers working in the community such as children’s centres, Citizens Advice Bureau, GPs, housing associations, Jobcentre Plus and London Borough of Hounslow Housing Strategy and Solutions, and Adult Social Care and Children’s Services.

Food packages contain non-perishable essentials such as pasta, rice and tinned food. The food package should last the recipient and their household around three days.

December 15, 2017