Community Donations Drive to Support Vulnerable Neighbours
Drop food and toiletries off this Saturday to St Paul's Church
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The Hounslow Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group is running a community donation drive this Saturday, 25th April, at St Paul’s Church, Brentford between 1pm and 5pm. The donation drive aims to collect food and toiletries at one location, to help those most in need across the borough of Hounslow. This includes the Hounslow Foodbox, open Kitchen, West Middlesex Hospital staff wellness centre as well as resident requiring urgent immediate food aid.
With the help of St Paul’s Church, Hounslow Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group is asking residents in Brentford to donate food that is sealed and non-perishable, as well as unopened toiletries. The group will be collecting donations outside of St Paul’s Church, TW8 0PN, between 1pm and 5pm. The community donation drive allows residents to donate much needed essentials to a single location, to then be among local organisations helping vulnerable members of the community during the current pandemic. Similar collection points are already available for residents in other parts of the borough at The Royal Oak Pub in Isleworth and PHAB Youth Centre in Hounslow.
The donation drive comes as several organisations across the borough become increasingly desperate for food donations. Foodbanks and soup kitchens have been inundated with requests for help since the pandemic lockdown began several weeks ago- Hounslow’s Community FoodBox has seen deliveries go from 80 per month to over 200 in a single week.
“More than ever, our most vulnerable neighbours are relying on the brilliant community to help them through the pandemic lockdown,” Said Hounslow Mutual Aid group’s Brentford organiser Jack Emsley. “This community drive enables all of us to play a part in ensuring those in need continue to have access to food and other essentials regardless of their circumstances. We are looking forward to seeing the community step up to the challenge once again on Saturday.”
In addition to distributing food to frontline organisations, the Mutual Aid Group will also use donations to help feed vulnerable residents not currently eligible for Hounslow Council’s Community Hub support programme. Donations will also be used to support the West Middlesex University Hospital’s Wellness Centre.
“With there being no immediate end to the current crisis, many organisations are rising to the occasion and supporting our most vulnerable residents,” said Asif Malik, a Hounslow Mutual Aid group organiser. “We have already set up collection points at the Phab Youth Centre in Hounslow and the Royal Oak pub in Isleworth for regular donations and it was felt it would be great to have something here in Brentford too. We are running this donation drive to help coordinate and assist groups and individual efforts that many residents at this end of the borough have also been running. Our thanks to the Parish of Brentford, and in particular St Paul’s Church, for their help in supporting our efforts.”
If you cannot get to the church please email hounslow.covid19.aid@gmail.com and collection will be arranged.
If you are interested in volunteering, or know someone in the area who is in need, you can contact the group via its Facebook page here.
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April 24, 2020
