About
About our foodbank
Here is an introduction to our project.
Epping Forest Foodbank is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales no 1182270 confirmed on 28th February 2019.
After an independent foodbank moved out of the area in 2012, it was clear that there was still a need to provide food for local people in crisis.
Here is an introduction to our project.
Epping Forest Foodbank is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales no 1182270 confirmed on 28th February 2019.
After an independent foodbank moved out of the area in 2012, it was clear that there was still a need to provide food for local people in crisis.
Having volunteered with the Redbridge Foodbank based in Ilford, founder Heather Scholer, a member of St Mary’s Church in Loughton had a vision to bring the Trussell Trust model of Foodbank into her own community to not only help those in crisis with an emergency food parcel but much more – to be a vehicle to share the good news, bring hope and connect people to access local services for additional support and to resolve their crisis completely.
On 21st June 2013 Loughton Foodbank was officially launched by Dame Eleanor Laing MP and the doors to Loughton Foodbank’s first open session opened the next day, 22nd June 2013.
Since then, over 180,000 meals have been distributed to local people in crisis via three foodbank distribution centres – Tuesday mornings at Epping Civic Office, Wednesday mornings at St Mary’s Church, Loughton and Saturday mornings from St John’s on the Broadway on Debden Broadway. There are around 100 volunteers who help on an annual basis.
In May 2017 Loughton Foodbank was renamed Epping Forest Foodbank. The third centre is supported by volunteers within Churches together in Epping & District (CTED) and provides another location within the District for emergency food collection.
In April 2018 with the help of a generous donation, a Unit on the Seedbed Centre, Langston Road was leased to provide a larger facility for warehousing and storage of donations and to provide a administration/office space. In 2019, we moved to our current location at 38c Chigwell Lane on the Oakwood Hill industrial estate.
Around 150 local and national frontline care professionals refer to us and around 35 volunteers are engaged in weekly activities for the foodbank, working together towards stopping hunger in our local area.
MORE THAN FOOD
In addition to non-perishable food, Epping Forest Foodbank also supplies toiletries, laundry items and Since June 2018 the foodbank also receives fresh ambient food as part of the Community Food Connection from Epping Tesco via FareShare. The food is usually bakery items, fruit and vegetables.
Since 2017 Epping Forest Foodbank has hosted a Family Mosaic/Peabody support officer on alternate weeks during the Wednesday foodbank centre. The officer provides a drop in and on the spot advice opportunity to any foodbank client.
Over the last 5 years, Epping Forest Foodbank has been supported by Loughton Town Council, Churches Together in Loughton, Specsavers Loughton, Barclays Bank Loughton, Epping Tesco, Proctor & Gamble, Churches Together in Epping and District, Epping Forest District Councils Health & Wellbeing team and numerous Epping Forest Schools, Children’s Centres, Places of Worship, Businesses, Organisations, Community Groups and Individuals.
We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has supported, donated or given their time to take Epping Forest Foodbank on it’s journey thus far…..there have been bigger dreams dreamt to ensure that those in most need can access our friendly, welcoming, non-judgmental, caring, loving and hopeful service…our hope is that together, we can put an end to hunger in Epping Forest.
If you’re reading and you would like to get involved or support us financially, please do contact us on 07402 032 313 or [email protected].
Download our leaflet all about EFFB here.