ALDI ROCHDALE - MELLOR ST

We started the soup kitchen four years ago serving soup from the back of a car outside Rochdale town hall one night a week. Within nine months we had enough volunteers to do this four nights a week and Saturday lunchtimes. We now have our own premises behind Champness Hall in Rochdale, from which we now aim to open a drop in centre seven days a week, serving lunches, soup kitchen in the evenings, providing hot showers, washing machine and drier, computers for applying for jobs and courses and medical services and counselling.

Our project operates from St Andrews Methodist And United Reformed Church a welcoming space where individuals and families can access support with dignity. We identify service users through referrals from local agencies, walk-ins, word-of-mouth, and direct outreach. We listen carefully to understand each person’s circumstances, ensuring our support is tailored to their needs. We offer a weekly hot food kitchen for those experiencing homelessness, financial hardship, or isolation. We also provide free food parcels, clothing, and household essentials such as bedding, kitchenware, and toiletries. Seasonal support is available too, including warm coats in winter and school supplies in autumn. All services are completely free of charge, because we believe that access to food, warmth, and dignity should never come with a price tag. Surplus food donations are distributed through our hot meals and parcel service. We prioritise those most in need, including individuals without housing, families facing financial strain, and elderly residents at risk of isolation. Food is shared both on-site and through flexible responses to urgent needs, such as doorstep deliveries. The impact of these donations is profound: they reduce hunger and food waste, restore dignity and choice, foster connection and wellbeing, ease financial pressure, and support sustainability by redirecting edible surplus away from landfill. Every service we offer is rooted in compassion, community, and the belief that everyone deserves care, connection, and hope. All surplus food donations are distributed completely free of charge to those in need. Our aim is to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry, and that dignity is never compromised by cost. Each week, we receive surplus food from local suppliers, supermarkets, and community partners. Our team carefully inspects and sorts the donations, then assembles food bags tailored to different needs. Family parcels include fresh produce, pantry staples, and child-friendly items. Smaller bags are prepared for single parents and individuals. For those without access to cooking facilities, we create ready-to-eat packs with nourishing, easy-to-carry items. These food bags are given out in several ways. Families and individuals can collect them directly from our premises. For those unable to travel—such as elderly residents or single parents—we offer doorstep delivery when possible. Our outreach teams also carry food bags during their rounds, offering immediate support to people sleeping rough or living in temporary accommodation.

We help our local community and we provide free food parcels and have a place for people to get food from. We are also providing free household items. We provides free hot meals & free food parcels to people in the community who are facing hardships and struggling with the cost of living. The service also offers a range of other support to their users including a clothing bank and making referrals to the local authority where needed and signposting to other third-party organisations. Based at Deeplish, we are committed to supporting our local community through various food and support programs. Our efforts include: - Regular donations of food to local hostels, including The Sanctuary Trust Halsall House Hostel, to assist homeless individuals. - Distributing food bags at the Deeplish Community Centre to families and individuals in need. Additionally, we receive hygiene products, baby items, and more, generously donated by Aldi. - Supporting children through our Kids Club, where they participate in preparing healthy meals with fruits and vegetables. This promotes nutritious eating habits and offers them snacks and refreshments. - Running a summer holiday playscheme, offering low-income families and children a safe space with food and engaging activities during the school break. - Working closely with Rochdale Borough Council, who attend our events to provide support and advice. - Receiving referrals from various organizations that recognize the vital support we provide to families and individuals in need. Thanks to the ongoing generosity and donations from Aldi, we are able to reach more families and individuals, offering hope, nourishment, and a helping hand. Our collective efforts are making a meaningful difference in our community. - General charitable purposes - Arts/culture/heritage/science - Amateur sport - Environment/conservation/heritage - Economic/community development/employment - Children/young people - Elderly/old people - People with disabilities - People of a particular ethnic or racial origin - Other charities or voluntary bodies - Other defined groups - The general public/mankind - Provides human resources - Provides buildings/facilities/open space - Provides advocacy/advice/information - Acts as an umbrella or resource body