Hannah at a collection of food at Collier Row Tesco Metro
The most deprived ward in Ilford finally has a foodbank for it’s residents. The food bank which is held at Clementswood Community centre cam about by complete accident. While applying for food share via Fareshare a charity that reallocates donated food from Tesco, Asda and Aldi to name but a few of their partners, for a homeless feeding centre, British Asian Christian Association soon realised that donations from Tesco Collier Row were so large they were surplus to requirements.
Dorah Mayah (Trustee for the BPCA) and Bronagh Rigney of Fareshare
Having gone through a really lengthy process to get approval from Fareshare which included obtaining a five star food hygiene rating from Redbridge Council. The Redbridge based charity then decided to hold a weekly foodbank at their community centre from 8.45 -9.45 am on Thursdays and Friday mornings. Moreover any food left over each day will be redistributed at 3.30pm on a first come first served basis. Food taken away will have to be eaten on the day or some may have a very small shelf-life.
People of any diversity suffering financial hardship can obtain food from this vital resource. BACA will not be inconveniencing or embarrassing people by asking for evidence of hardship but ask people to only come if it is necessary.
Hannah Chowdhry a long term volunteer at British Asian Christian Association, said:
“We thank God that he has provided us with this opportunity.
“The surplus food can help really needy families to get the necessary nourishment they need and allow them to save the mony that would have been spent on food on other essentials.
“I have known for a long while that our community centre is in one of the most deprived wards in the borough of Redbridge, so we are right in the midst of people that could benefit from such a service.
“We are grateful to Tesco and to Fareshare for their help and hope that our small effort may bring hope to desperate and needy families.”
Food can be collected from Clementswood Community Centre, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1RN, which is opposite the Prince of Wales pub on Green Lane. BACA will expand the our foodbank to a daily centre if popular and will take more of food donations from the various Fareshare partners if demand for at our foodbank is popular.
For more details call 0208 500 1192 or email hannah@britishpakistanichristians.org
