Perry Rise Baptist Church operates as a Lewisham Churches food bank collection centre on Thursdays from 12 noon to 2pm.
How food banks works
Providing emergency food to people in crisis.
Everyday people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. A simple box of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.
Food is donated
Schools, churches, businesses, and individuals donate non-perishable, in-date food to a food bank. Large collections often take place as part of Harvest Festival celebrations and food is also collected at supermarkets.
Food is sorted and stored
Volunteers sort food to check that it’s in date and pack it into boxes ready to be given to people in need. Over 40,000 people give up their time to volunteer at food banks.
Professionals identify people in need
Food banks partner with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, mental health workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.
Clients receive food
Food bank clients bring their voucher to a food bank centre where it can be redeemed for a week’s worth of emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink and refreshments and can signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.
Clients can redeem up to three vouchers in a six-month period.
For more information about the food bank, visit the Trussell Trust.