We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Castle Hill Community Centre Trust to create a new Food Bank to support the community. Based at Castle Hill Community Centre, Highfield Road, to help families in need during this National Emergency. 

We are called the Community Pantry

The idea behind our Fresh Food Friday project was provide fresh fruit and veg to complement the ambient goods local food banks provided.

Before this crisis period of Covid-19 forced them into isolation, many of our local churches ran food banks and lunch clubs and the idea was to support them but sadly they had to close due to the majority of their volunteers being forced into isolation.Obviously the need was still there, and as the weeks passed it was evident that that need was growing rapidly.

We decided we needed to learn quickly how food banks worked! Luckily we were welcomed into the Food Bank world by organisations like FareShare, Asda, The Bus Shelter, Morrisons & Nansen Road Baptist Church and we will always be grateful for their support. 

We linked with Suffolk County and Ipswich Borough Council’s as well as numerous other local organisations to reach people in need.

Whilst the Community Centre remained closed to the public under government rules, they have permitted food bank teams to work and we are happy to report we have managed to meet all the referrals made to us thanks to the generosity of donations, including private ones.

If you need urgent support with food please contact Home but not Alone, this is supporting vulnerable people in Suffolk on 0800 876 6926

If you wish to donate any items we will be able to accept these on Mondays starting 18th May between 09:30 and 11:00 at Castle Hill Community Centre.

Please leave any donations in the main entrance porch just inside the red doors so we are observing social distancing. We would welcome any in-date, ambient goods but unfortunately we are not able to store fresh goods or items that need to be refrigerated or frozen.