Brixton food bank launched to ease the burden

two men in aprons
Volunteers at Brixton food bank

Kind-hearted samaritans have launched a food bank in St Pauls Church, Ferndale Road, Brixton, to help combat an alarming rise in families living below the poverty line.

The organisers of the charitable service have now appealed to Brixton Blog readers to donate suitable food to be distributed free to those who need it most.

Elizabeth Maytom, of West Norwood Foodbank, helped set up the food store last week after finding people travelling from Brixton to West Norwood to receive food. “Brixton has the highest levels of deprivation in the Lambeth borough, with one in three children estimated to be living in poverty and eligible for free school meals,” she said.
The new foodbank is the result of a partnership between three local churches – St Luke’s West Norwood, St Paul’s Brixton and Beacon Church, Brixton.  But Maytom added: “we rely heavily on the generosity of the public whose food donations have such a major impact on our success.”
Its sister branch in West Norwood has handed out over 5,000kg of food since it launched in September.
The new food bank is open at St Pauls from 10.30am to 1.30pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays 11am until 2pm. People can get vouchers from their GP or social worker to exchange for food.
For more information or to find out how to help, contact the team at norwoodfoodbank@btinternet.com or visit the website at http://www.norwood.foodbank.org.uk/.