From today to Thursday 31st October, local businesses and the public are invited to donate non-perishable food items to those in need across the borough
A rail operator has teamed up with London’s first food redistribution charity City Harvest to help deliver 50,000 meals to those in need across the capital.
As part of the food distribution plan, Arriva London has set up a food collection point at Highams Park Station, alongside 17 Overground stations across London.
From today to Thursday 31st October, local businesses and the public are invited to donate non-perishable food items to the collection points. Donations will be distributed by City Harvest to over 375 charities and community organisations across London.
Our London-wide operation delivers free food every week to over 375 community partners, including food banks, homeless shelters, schools, hostels, soup kitchens, refuges, local community hubs, and more.
The donations to the Highams Park food collection point will be distributed to the following charities in Waltham Forest: Groundwork Walthamstow, Friday Hill Community Association, FoodCycle Walthamstow, Hornbeam Centre, and Hope for Humanity.
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City Harvest is currently redistributing the equivalent of 1.2 million meals a month, but faces ever-growing demand for food.
The partnership stems from the efforts of Arriva’s customer host, David Cranstoun, and customer experience strategy delivery manager, Pauline Lawler, who nominated City Harvest in 2023 to receive a one-off donation from the company’s charity scheme.
David and Pauline then worked with colleagues to set up a food collection point at Acton Central station and arranged volunteering for employees at the charity’s warehouse. This year’s initiative aims to make an even greater impact by delivering an extra 50,000 meals to Londoners facing food poverty.
Marco Torquati, head of community impact at City Harvest, said: “Community contributions from Arriva Rail London stations this harvest festival make a huge difference to City Harvest. As one in four Londoners face food poverty, and benefits are constantly being cut for the capital’s most vulnerable, extra support via free food is needed amongst our London community partners now more than ever.”
Find out more about City Harvest here
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