M&S Hitchin

True Vine Food Support is a Luton based service that was set up to meet the needs of the vulnerable in our local area. We operate from the local church premises in Park Street, Luton. We are passionate about unsold and surplus food not going to waste so we use it to help our local community. We are open to all members of our local community. We create food parcels for the homeless, vulnerable and low income families. These parcels are free of charge to those who are referred to us by other local charities, low income families with children and others who, after gathering some information, we identify as requiring food support. We believe that surplus food should not be wasted in landfill but given to those in need. We encourage our service users to make the most of the food by giving ideas of meals that could be cooked from the donated foods. We currently collect food from Lidl and Aldi only. Our services users also appreciate the flowers that are available to collect from time to time. An additional service that we provide is recycling donated furniture and children's toys. The service is run by volunteers who sort the food into individual parcels based on the user's needs, man the collection reception and lend a listening ear when needed. Our aim is to support our local community not just with food parcels but with warmth and loving care. Our services are provided free of charge. The collection desk is open every Sunday from 2pm - 4pm, no appointment is needed.

Wilbury Community Forum has been running a free cafe for five and half years to bring local people together in a part of Letchworth that doesn't have cafes or pubs. Currently we offer a cuppa and cake, arts and crafts, good quality pre-loved school uniforms, likewise house hold goods and clothing to go and offer a free bike surgery. In a second hall we hold a family play session followed by a gentle exercise class. Offering free food released by supermarkets for community distribution will be an added benefit to us all.

Community Church within the locality of Hitchin Hertfordshire. The project operates from Westmill Community Centre, John Barker Place, Hitchin SG5 2PG We identify service users and their needs via word of mouth plus referrals from local government, and voluntary agencies. Some of the other services provided by our organisation, other than food support are Clothing, furniture, home moving and counselling. There is no charge for any of the services provided by our organisation. We currently collect surplus food from Aldi, Stevenage and Marks and Spencer’s Hitchin. We also collect some home-made meals from Hitchin, and we distribute to families within the local community. We have had local press reporting on our activities which demonstrates our organisation's work in the local community. We have partnered with other local good causes and council members over the years such as Churches Together in Hitchin (CTH) contact John Richardson johnrichardson891@btinternet.com for a reference. Feed Up Warm Up, contact Liz Wills elizabethwills@rcdow.org.uk for a reference. NHDC voucher promotion.