A VITAL service for people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis is now offering food parcels to even more residents.
From its beginnings delivering parcels to families affected by the lockdown in 2020, Dursley Community Food Hub is now partnering with organisations across Cam and Dursley to help reach more people impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
Dursley Community Food Hub, which operates out of Dursley Tabernacle URC Church, delivers up to 50 parcels of surplus food from local supermarkets to homes each week.
It now also provides four weekly drop-in sessions when visitors can select free surplus or donated food and other household essentials.
Dursley Library, R & J Hardware in Cam, and Autocheck on Taits Hill now all have food collection boxes to help with deliveries.
Naylor Powell Estate Agents have donated 1,000 bags for life, and for people who visit the hub without a bag.
Meanwhile a donation from Ashmead W.I. enabled the hub to buy nappies, and Dursley Lions provide their van and drivers each week to help with deliveries.
Hub coordinator Heidi Horn said: “It’s been humbling to see so many different parts of the community get involved as word has spread.
"Every partnership helps us reach more people.
“We all know people who need help, or can imagine how the rising prices are affecting families, and the response makes me proud to be a part of this community.
“Our twin goals are minimising food waste and helping people who are struggling to make ends meet in the current climate.”
Dursley Tab URC also provides a warm space from 1pm to 6.30pm on Wednesday afternoons including a hot meal, and the Food Hub is open alongside it from 4pm to 6pm as well as from 10am to midday on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Heidi added: “We have grown and changed so much over recent months and want to make sure people know where we are and how we can help.
“The hub is in the reception room of Dursley Tab on Parsonage Street and we aim to keep stocked up even when the more visible surplus food cart in front of the church is empty.
"Visitors are welcomed by one of our team of 30 volunteers, who help them find what they most need.
“Typically people request tins of food and items that will make a complete meal, such as pasta, sauce, tinned meat and fresh vegetables.
"Breakfast cereals and UHT milk are also popular items, as well as hygiene goods, such as sanitary towels, shampoo, shower gel and also laundry and cleaning products.
“The kettle is always on if someone wants a cup of tea. It is a non-judgemental space - people from all walks of life are currently facing hard decisions and we are here to make that just a little bit easier and hopefully help people know that there is a community around them that cares.
“Our volunteers are from the church and across the community and we are always happy to welcome new people to the team – more volunteers would enable us to open on a Saturday morning in the future for example.
"I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has got involved in whatever way, they are a testimony to what can be achieved when people come together.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about the Food Hub can contact Heidi on 07970 871 471.
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