Lidl Dunstable

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.

With the levels of unemployment, along with the number of low-paid employees living in Brent, many residents find themselves at a crisis point. They are unable to feed their families and provide for life’s basic needs. There may, however, be many other challenges within the family, which may contribute to the family crisis. It is bearing this in mind that the Centre of Help and Hope was conceived. The Centre provides the following services: Food bank Clothing hub Befriending service Gardening services Counselling services Light domestic help Vocational skills Intentional parenting courses

We at 'Meeting Needs' try to meet the needs of those who are in our community on a weekly basis who struggle financially. We do this by making up food parcels and boxes, and then have these delivered to those in our surrounding areas.. What premises does your project operate from? We do not operate from any premises as we do not store or retain food. All food are delivered on the day, or night that it is collected from the stores due to their "used by date". Our policy is straight from the store, straight to our recipients homes as we conduct a delivery service from store straight to homes. This ensures no one is hampered by having to travel to access the food. Our ethos is to eradicate all barriers that inhibits individuals from accessing food and that includes travel. We also eliminate the need to carry heavy bags of food back to their homes. Our motto is to provide a streamline service that enables our recipients to have an easier way of receiving food which greatly aids our more challenged individuals like the elderly and disabled. All of our collections are given to shelters, refuges and hostels and private homes. Other parties that benefit from us are single parent families, homeless, low income workers, as well as individuals who are on benefits. The elderly and the disabled and individuals who are in care homes who enjoy receiving our cakes, breads, and flowers. The users are identified by the need that they show and divulge to us, and the difficulties and challenges that they face in accessing food. We also supply clothing, household items which are sourced from other Charity organisations. Has there been local press or similar that demonstrates your organisation's work in the local community? We do not advertise the work that we do as a respect to the individuals that we serve as some of our recipients are classed as 'vulnerable' ie DV victims.