Community FoodHub

Initially, church volunteers delivered small parcels of surplus food and flowers to people isolated and/or financially impacted by the first Covid lockdown. Inspired by Jesus’ love of his neighbour and care for those who were overlooked, the volunteers wanted recipients to know that they were seen and v

alued. In this way the scheme was a natural fit with the church’s mission statement of ‘Inspired by Jesus, walking his way of radical love to make a difference in this world.’ Referrals were originally by word of mouth, but schools began to forward details of families happy to be part of the scheme.

The initial small team of Church volunteers began to be joined by others outside of the church who heard about the deliveries or received parcels themselves and this growth and partnership between Church and local community has continued. As the team and number of referrals grew so did the number of supermarkets the Tab partnered with, until now when surplus food is collected most days. This is placed on the market stall outside the Tab for free, as well as being delivered to homes.

Dursley Tab’s Community Food Hub opened in Autumn 2022, with an increasing focus on produce being available for collection at the church.  Making the food available at the Tab gives people the choice to select items that best suit their family needs.  The Hub will seek to keep evolving and responding to the hopes and needs of people, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis impacts on families’ ability to buy food. One of its first developments has been to open a community fridge in the Tab’s reception room providing chilled surplus food.

As a church we recognise that people need food. In the Lord’s Prayer we ask, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’. But we also believe that faith, hope and love bring life in a way that bread alone can’t (Matthew 4.4). We would encourage you to consider what the churches in this town can offer you in the Christian faith to We would encourage you to consider what the churches in this town can offer you in the Christian faith to meet wider needs Churches Together in Cam, Dursley and District

• Cereals and UHT milk
• Nappies, wipes, and baby shampoo
• Shower gel, shampoo and toothpaste
• Laundry tablets
• Coffee and long-life fruit juice
• Pasta and sauces
• Tinned meat, beans and fish

• The Food Hub during opening hours (Mon 10-12, Weds 4-6, Thurs 10-12, Fri 10-12)
• Autocheck Car Care Centre, Industrial Estate Units 8-10 Taits Hill, Dursley GL11 6BL
• R and J Hardware, 6-8 High Street, Cam GL11 5LE
• Dursley Library, May Lane, Dursley, GL11 4JH

For more information about Dursley Tab contact the minister Simon Helme on 07443 568242 minister@dursleytab.org.uk or see https://www.facebook.com/DursleyTab