GAIL'S St Margarets

We are a volunteer run group focused on reducing food waste and supporting local families in need. Our mission is simple: to make sure no one in our community goes hungry while tackling the growing problem of food surplus. Thanks to our partnerships with Neighbourly, Fareshare and Caboodle, we have benefited from strong relationships with local supermarkets and food providers—including M&S, Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Nando's, KFC, Co-op, Lidl, Aldi, Pret a Manger, and Gail’s Bakery—we rescue surplus food and redistribute it to those who need it most via personal contacts and our Partner Organisations. This gives us the ability to provide varied, nutritious food parcels at no cost to families and individuals facing food insecurity. In addition to fresh food collections, we also stock a community cupboard with ambient and non-perishable items, enabling members of our community to access support anonymously and with dignity. Our recipients are identified through word of mouth and referrals from local schools and community organisations. Each week, we supply the equivalent of 2250 meals to local families and indiviuals as well as primary schools and community groups - ensuring that anyone who needs food can access it easily. Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable community where food is shared, not wasted.

(Food Pantry & SHAP Housing Project empowers vulnerable young adults aged 18–30 through our housing project and food pantry. We provide stable accommodation, essential food support, and mentoring to foster independence and build resilience. About Our Work & Who We Help: Registered as an independent charity (No. 1186029), we operate a dedicated community food pantry alongside our supported housing initiative. Our primary focus is delivering vital nutritional aid, safe accommodation, and life-skills development to young people aged 18–30, care leavers, and local families experiencing severe hardship. What Support We Need Most: To sustain our daily food distribution and support our housing project residents, our organisation relies heavily on consistent surplus food donations—particularly ambient goods, fresh produce, bakery items, and chilled essentials. Reliable access to quality surplus food allows us to reduce local waste while directly alleviating hunger and hardship for the young people and community members we support every week.

Food for Thought Heathfield distributes food to our community that would otherwise have been discarded from local supermarkets, restaurants and independent food outlets . We offer a pop up stall on Heathfield Recreation Ground on a Thursday and Saturday. Our offering is for everybody! We want those who need food to have it. Our visitors also choose surplus for environmental reasons, saving from landfill and reducing carbon footprint. We encourage everybody to use surplus food to help themselves and others, gifting and cooking for their families and the rest of the community. We do not charge for food - ultimately what we offer would have gone in a bin! Those who wish to donate help us to continue feeding as well as supporting redevelopment and the community around us.