Support from the local community for the Foodbank at the Grange Hill Methodist Church has been overwhelming during the run up to Christmas.

We normally obtain regular supplies of Emergency Food boxes from the Redbridge Foodbank, but due to them having to deal with Covid-19 restrictions, cases of Covid and increased demand for foodboxes, the Foodbank at Grange Hill faced December and January without supplies - this is where the local community stepped in to help. A plea was put out on a local Facebook page and offers of help and support rolled in. Donations from our neighbours made it possible to meet the needs of and provide Christmas gifts to the callers and their families. It is estimated that over £500 of additional food had been donated through the Brownies and pre-school nursery, who meet at the church, and from the surrounding community. A funding page was also set up by the community and this produced a very generous response. It is estimated that we helped 35 callers/families over the three times we were open over Christmas and the New Year.

As Christmas and New Year’s Day fell on Saturdays the opening days were moved to midweek, and on the Wednesday before Christmas the Foodbank was combined with a coffee morning, including carols.

As well as the donations given, the regular volunteers were very grateful for additional help given by members of the community by distributing food to callers, receiving the donations and restocking tables, including a surprise volunteer – the Mayor of Redbridge/Local Councillor, who, as well as helping through the Christmas and New Year period, stepped in to cover when we were short of volunteers on 8th January!

Throughout 2021, the Foodbank provided an opportunity for the Grange Hill Methodist Project to build links with the community and begin to help those in need in the local area, and it has been good to hear that some callers have secured employment, while others have become volunteers at the Foodbank.

If you would like to donate to the Grange Hill Project or become one of our volunteers, please contact the Circuit Administrator: Jackie Saito, bdicircuitoffice@btconnect.com.