or over two years British Asian Christian Association have been providing free meals for homeless people, the economically deprived and refugees and asylum-seekers. Our work began after Trustees became acutely aware of the growing homeless community in Ilford during a series of outreach events in Ilford Town Centre (click here).
You can read a full review of our ‘Meals for the Homeless’ project and watch videos (here). It includes an account of how we grew the service by meeting the homeless on the streets were they took shelter.
Two weeks ago we resumed collections from Marks and Spencer and have also signed up for collections from Sainsbury’s. We do not intend to grow back to the levels during the pandemic, but have seen a growing number of visitors in recent weeks and wanted to meet better their needs for food.
Please view our photo whistle-stop tour below.
The current economic climate has resulted in a huge increase in the number of people who attend our service. Our fuel and food costs are increasing and we need you support to enable us to continue the project and to expand. We need larger food supplies and would like to purchase a fully electric vehicle. If you would like to support this work please donate (here).
Large queues of desperate people seeking hot meals and some food bank are regularly found at our community centre.
Volunteers ensure lots of food is available and that our visitors have a choice between several healthy meals. We ensure that their are meals with meat, vegetarian meals and meals that meet all religious requirements for our varied visitors.
We continue with applying hand sanitizer on the hands of visitors although we have removed the requirement to wear a mask.
Hot meals, Fruit, vegetables and a foodbank ensure visitors continue to have healthy nutritious meals.
Our visitors include the homeless, asylum seekers, refugees and local families for those finding the current economic situation challenging.
Our food bank is now supported by Sainsburys and Marks and Spencer. It is serving a large number of local people up to 30 people a day.
Our ‘Meals for the Needy’ project is led by Hannah and Juliet Chowdhry and has now been operating for almost 2 years.
Our volunteers find the work extremely rewarding.
Meals come from as far afield as Finsbury Park news of our work spread across London during the lockdown and many people offer help.
We offer drinks and food and try to give additional fluids to the homeless on hot days.
Our visitors keep sharing news of how good we are and keep growing. Our meals service is very well known locally.
Varied meals ensure everyone who comes can find something they can take away.
Different meats or purely vegetarian we try to meet every persons requirements.
Thanks to Event recycle we have been giving away brand new T Shirts.
Lots of food and drink for everyone – no-one need go hungry in Ilford while we are open.
Greggs provide regular food donations every Saturday.
New people can be seen every week at our centre.
People come with bags so they can take food not just for the day we serve but for the following day too.
We have been giving away towels, sanitary products and toiletries and varied clothes thanks to the donations provide by local organisations and people.
We have old and young visitors everyone is served with care and attention.
The queues just don’t stop.
Food and drink for everyone.
Completely new T-shirts were given away to those who wanted them.
