Harlow Foodbank feeds 4,048 people in crisis


Up to the end of November 2011 Harlow Foodbank has given out food to feed 4,048 people in crisis since it opened in April 2009.  The foodbank collects donated food from its partners in Harlow and the surrounding area, which includes 57 churches, 37 schools, 3 supermarkets (ASDA, Sainsbury’s & Tesco’s) and many individual people across the town.  Jacqueline Cotton, Project Coordinator for the food bank commented “Harlow Foodbank has given the community a great opportunity to support local people in crisis and we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from them since we opened. Referrals from front-line care professionals have increased by 35% this year and we urgently need all the donated food we can get as we now feed an average of 186 people each month”

Gary Knott, Director of Community Services says:  ‘Sometimes people are surprised by the need for emergency food locally, but hidden hunger is a real problem in the UK.  Behind closed doors there are families who would be forced to send their children to bed hungry tonight if the foodbank was not here to help.  We see families everyday who are so grateful for a simple food box and we are delighted that the local community has been so supportive, enabling the foodbank to feed 4,048 people since we opened.’

It has just been announced that Harlow Foodbank has won the NatWest Community Force “Public & Community Benefit Award” for 2011 and they should soon receive £6,276 so THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to vote for us, which is greatly appreciated.  This award will go towards the further development of the foodbank service in Harlow, which will greatly benefit people in crisis.

APPEAL – Harlow foodbank urgently needs Christmas items (puddings, mince pies, selection boxes, sweets and other non-perishable seasonal treats) to give out to families with children who are in crisis in the weeks leading up to Christmas so if you can help please ring the MRCT office on 01279 724515.

 For more information visit: www.mrct.org.uk/foodbank


  • Foodbanks actively involve the local community in helping those in crisis in their midst.


  • Clients are referred to Harlow foodbank by frontline care professionals who are best positioned to identify people in crisis. Care professionals issue their client with a foodbank voucher which can be redeemed for three days of emergency food.


  • Foodbanks also provide signposting to agencies that are able to help provide longer term solutions to any problems, for example, debt counselling.


  • Clients are referred to foodbanks for a huge variety of reasons, including: redundancy, benefit delay, unemployment, illness, debt, an unexpected bill, or bereavement. Most people who use the foodbank are not homeless.


  • Harlow falls into the top 30% of most deprived authorities in England
  • 22.45% of children in Harlow are living below the poverty line

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