About

About our foodbank

Here is an introduction to our project.

 

The Dorking Area Foodbank was set up in 2015 by a team of volunteers from the local Churches in Dorking.  We are a Trussell Trust Foodbank and our Trustees are all drawn from Churches Together in Dorking, an ecumenical Christian group.

 

We opened our doors at the beginning of June 2015 with 60 volunteers and since then the distribution centre has been open to the public twice a week at the Christian Centre in the middle of Dorking.  Whilst initially we drew our volunteers from the Churches, it was always our intention to become a community project and now we have a mixed group of about 70 volunteers welcoming those from all walks of life, professing some or no faith, all ages (over 16), of varying abilities, from different ethnic and race groups, colour and sexual orientation.

 

LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED 1,474 FOOD PARCELS THROUGH OUR REGULAR DISTRIBUTION CENTRE AND FED 3,172 PEOPLE INCLUDING 1,048 CHILDREN PROVIDING FOOD FOR 3 DAYS.

 

In addition, we provide food to those in need as follows:

  • We supply Holiday Boost Bags throughout our area before every main school holiday (3 times a year) through our referral agency network. These go to families to assist with holiday hunger. We are very aware that this is only the tip of the iceberg and are wishing to develop this service.
  • We supply other local charities, housing associations and projects with food as requested, particularly at Christmas and Easter.

 

We plan to work more actively with the community to develop better links with other groups of vulnerable people; the elderly and those with poor mental health so that the food goes to more of those most in need in the area.

We have one warehouse on a separate local site, which is open three times a week and holds up to 6 tons of food at any one time. It is housed in property supplied by Mole Valley District Council for which we are very grateful and for which we pay a peppercorn rent.

We employ a Project Lead and 2 Warehouse Managers (job share).

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