Food Bank Lenten Appeal 2025

Dear Supporters

Thank you so much to every one of you who collects food for Chelmsford Foodbank this Lenten time.

We rely on donations from the public to be able to provide emergency food for those in our local community who need it. Sadly last year saw the largest number of people ever fed by Chelmsford Foodbank. This is not OK.

Our vision is to see an end to the need for Foodbanks and, together with Trussell, we are working hard to achieve this. We have continued to develop ‘hubs’ over the past year in all of our centres so that when people come to us to collect their food they have the opportunity to engage in person with other helping agencies such as the Citizens Advice, Community Money Advice, Peabody and Essex Welfare Services, who can help them address underlying issues to improve their situation and reduce the need for Foodbank help. This is why we are so keen that people come to us to pick up their food; meeting with our volunteers as well as representatives from these services can bring real breakthrough and lasting change for people.

Despite the crisis we are living through, the public have been so generous and we have seen an incredible response to our harvest appeal. We are so grateful and appreciative of the kindness and compassion of the people of Chelmsford.

With the current situation, your support is even more vital than ever. We would therefore love to encourage you to consider how you could support the Foodbank moving forward. Here are a few ideas:

· Opt in to receiving our e-mailed regular shopping list and distribute, for example, via a school or church newsletter, just reply to this email to ensure you are on the list

· Like and Follow us on Facebook

· Set up a permanent collection point in your workplace, school or church to encourage ongoing giving

· Organise a food collection at another point during the year eg March or June

Please look on our website for any further information – www.chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk.

If you are interested in any of the above, please contact us through info@chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk

Many thanks again for your support and donations.

Chelmsford Foodbank Management Team

Chelmsford Foodbank can be contacted by:

Email: info@chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk
Telephone: 07512 574542

Web: www.chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk

We welcome clients into our centres to redeem vouchers Monday 3-4.30pm, Wednesday and Friday 10am-12.30pm at Grove Road Church, Moulsham Street CM2 0EY; Tuesday 2-3.30pm at St Paul's Church Loftin Way Great Baddow CM2 9TN; Tuesday 5.30-7pm Refresh/The River North Avenue Christian Centre CM1 2AL; Wednesday 9.45-11.45am at New Life Church, South Woodham Ferrers CM3 5JP; Thursday 10-11.30am at Baddow Parish Hall Maldon Road CM2 7DW, Thursday 1-2.30pm at St Andrew's Church Hall, Melbourne Avenue CM1 2DT; Friday 4-5.30 at Beaulieu Community Centre CM1 6AU. Warehouse is open to receive donations weekdays 9.30am-12.30pm at 450A Beehive Lane CM2 8RN.

Thank you so much for your generosity in donating - we are very grateful. To keep up to date with our current needs, please please 'like' and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChelmsfordFoodbank or visit our website https://chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/

Many thanks

Chelmsford Foodbank is overseen by The River Church Chelmsford Ltd, a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England number: 7685257. Registered charity number: 1144804.

The first Sunday of every month including during Lent there is a collection of food at St Augustine’s for the Little Free Pantry. If you are able to help we would welcome donations of dry goods, tins, baby milk and toiletries. We try to avoid anything in glass bottles/jars.

We know that the pantry is being well used and demand is getting higher so thank you for any help you are able to give.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support throughout the year.