Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church Food Stop was launched at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, providing food deliveries to families who were either shielding or who were struggling financially. Since then, it has gone on to become an award winning, permanent project that offers £20 worth of fresh, chilled, frozen and tinned food to families and individuals in need every week through its partnership with national charity Fare Share and local supermarkets.
The Food Stop has expanded to provide clothing, free haircuts and expert advice and support through links with Croydon Council, charities and also volunteers.
For the last few Christmases, the Food Stop has provided a hamper that contains 'everything you need for Christmas dinner' recognising that for many families, Christmas is a time of intense financial stress. For the last few months, the Food Stop has been fundraising to provide 125 Croydon families a traditional British Christmas dinner and brings a smile to their faces on Christmas day.
Cllr Kolade and I volunteer at the Food Stop every 2 weeks and it’s been wonderful to begin to get to know the volunteers who work so hard, as well as some of the regular attendees. When the call went out to ask for drivers to help deliver the hampers, a few friends, my sister and other councillor colleagues were happy to help. We spend this morning with our delivery routes, bringing the hampers to families all around Croydon.
Congratulations to the Old Lodge Lane Food Stop for motivating so many people to get involved, ensuring families were able to have a Christmas dinner whilst relieving some of their financial worries.
