Harlow Foodbank feeds 600 local people in crisis



With recession taking its toll locally, Harlow foodbank has just given food to its 600th client since the project opened in April 2009.As growing numbers of people in Harlow struggle to put food on the table, the foodbank is working with churches, schools and frontline care professionals to provide three days of emergency food to local people in crisis.

As more people need emergency food, more people in the local community are stepping up to help meet the need by supporting the foodbank.All food given out by the foodbank is donated by members of the public, with frontline care professionals such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Harlow Welfare Rights and others identifying those most in need.So far, no client referred to the foodbank has been turned away empty handed.

Harlow foodbank Director ofCommunity Services Gary Knott 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 foodbox and we are delighted that the local community has been so supportive, enabling the foodbank to have fed over 600 people since we opened in April last year.'

At the end of December 2009 Harlow foodbank was working in partnership with 38 churches, 2 secondary schools and 23 front-line care professionals.The foodbank also worked in partnership with ASDA and Sainsbury's supermarkets in Harlow who allowed food collections during the year.

People wishing to donate food to the Harlow Foodbank should contact Gary Knott on 01279 724515

Contact Details:

Michael Roberts Charitable Trust (MRCT)
The Rainbow Centre, 2 Wych Elm, Harlow,
Essex CM20 1QP
Tel: 01279 724515Mobile: 07734 128430




Registered Charity Number: 1065006
Registered Company Number: 3439299
(Registered in England & Wales)




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