Food bank donation and distribution points

All of the borough's food banks are staffed by volunteers and rely on donations from the public. If you are able to support a food bank please take your food donation to one of the organisations listed below.

Find out how to get help if you are struggling to get food and essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What donations are needed by food banks

• milk (UHT or powdered)
• sugar (500g)
• fruit juice (carton)
• tea bags and instant coffee
• tinned meat and fish
• tinned fruit
• soup
• pasta sauces
• tinned pulses, such as lentils, beans, chickpeas
• instant mashed potato
• jam
• tomatoes (tinned)
• cereals
• rice pudding (tinned)
• rice, pasta and couscous
• biscuits or snack bars
• sponge pudding (tinned)
• vegetables (tinned)
• custard (tinned).

Food banks and donation points

Lewisham food bank

If you need a food parcel, Lewisham Foodbank can support you. You will need to ask for a referral through someone like your GP, teacher, health visitor, housing officer, advice worker or social worker.

If you are unsure who to ask, you can call the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau foodbank referral helpline on 0808 208 2138. Advice Lewisham and Community Connections Lewisham, can make a referral on your behalf.

Food for collection at the different sites, delivery where needed only.

• Salvation Army (Deptford) Mary Ann Gardens, Deptford SE8 3DP Monday 12–2pm
• Salvation Army (Lewisham) 4 Albion Way, Lewisham SE13 6BT Tuesday 10am–12pm
• St John the Baptist Church, 353 Bromley Road SE6 2RP Wednesday 12–2pm
• Hope Centre, 118 Malham Road, Forest Hill SE23 1AN Wednesday 11am–2pm and Thursday 11am–2pm
• Salvation Army Catford, 23 - 25 Brownhill Road SE6 2HE Friday 10am–12pm

Food donation drop-off available Monday/Tuesday/Friday, 9am–5.30pm. Wednesday/Thursday 2–5.30pm.

Hope Centre, Malham Road, Forest Hill SE23 1AN.

Donate to Lewisham Food Bank online.

Alternatively, donate to any Lewisham Food Bank distribution point (see below).

Living water Christian food service

Honor Oak Community Centre, 50 Turnham Road, SE4 2JD.

Anyone making a request will need to provide their: name, telephone number and family size. Dietary needs catered for.

This service opens fortnightly on Wednesday evenings from 7–8.30pm

To make a request email Lwccfoodservice@gmail.com or text 07783441973.

Barley Loaves food service

Barley Loaves Food Service is closed until further notice.

LewCAS food bank

LewCAS food bank is for refugees and asylum seekers. To find out more about LewCAS visit their website.

Food distributions are on Tuesday mornings at St John's Church SE8 4EA, 11am–1pm.

Contact Peter on peter.stjohnsdeptford@gmail.com or 07786160993 to refer an individual.

Whitefoot & Downham community food project

Hope Church Downham (formerly Christian Centre), Downham BR1 5SF.

Contact info@wdcfplus.org.uk or call 020 8698 7945.

Anyone in hardship living in the Whitefoot or Downham area can access these food parcels.

Food distribution is on Thursdays from 7–8.30pm. No delivery, pre-packed bags only.

Eliot Bank and Kelvin Grove children's centre food bank

Eliot Bank and Kelvin Grove children's centre food bank provides food and basic essentials for people in need in the local community. You can self-refer but you will need to register with the centre when you arrive.

Grove Children's Centre, Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 6BB.

Wednesdays, 12am to 2pm.

Contact: 02086130172.

Salvation Army (deptford church and community centre)

144 Deptford High Street, SE8 3DP.

The Salvation Army provides food for anyone experiencing financial hardship in the SE8 area. Food parcels are prepared Monday morning for collection by appointment. 

They accept referrals from agencies or self-referral. Contact deptford@salvationarmy.org.uk or call 02086925263.

St Peter’s Church Brockley food bank

43 Wickham Road, Brockley, SE4 1LT.

A social supermarket for people in the SE4 area on Wednesdays. Pay a £3 membership weekly fee to choose groceries to last a week.

You can request support from St Peter's Church Brockley on their website.

The helping hands food bank

The helping hands food bank is run by Action for Refugees and Good Shephers St Peter's Church Lee. This food bank supports refugees, asylum-seekers and vulnerable migrant families.

To make a referral or request support email: foodbank@afril.org.uk or call 07872 161 271.

We care food bank and pantry

50 Friendly Street, Deptford, SE8 4DR.

Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am–4pm and offers a social pantry where members pay £5 for shopping as well as a foodbank (referral only) call 07871187162 for more information.

Catford Salvation Army

23 - 25 Brownhill Road SE6 2HE.

Open Fridays 10am–1pm for emergency food parcels.

Chinbrook action residents team food bank

Available to Chinbrook residents only. Weekly parcels on a Wednesday. Contact 07455 213291 or email paul@chartbiglocal.org.uk.

Feed the hill

Feed the hill delivers free food boxes to local housebound people in SE4 and SE14 for those self-isolating or experiencing food poverty. To find out more information or request help visit Feed the hill's website or text 07748713212.

Grove Park emergency food bank project

The World of Life Church, Rehoboth Building, 72a Mayeswood Road, SE12 9RP.

Available for people of Grove Park and the surrounding area. Bring one form of ID and one proof of address. Contact by calling 07930 958097 or email info@wordoflife-lcc.org.

Open Fridays 12–2pm.

Pie and Mash the field mutual aid

Provides food parcels for anyone in the Deptford area. To request help email piemashfield@riseup.net or call 07857024435.

Rehoboth church

159 Perry Rise SE23 2QU.

Open Thursdays 11–1pm. Call Pastor Carla Thomas on 0753398074.

Rastafari movement UK food and wellbeing first

Offering African Caribbean cultural food for vulnerable people. Get in contact with Sis Marcia with referrals by emailing rmukwellbeing@gmail.com or calling 07947 681 875. Deliveries once a week on Tuesday evenings.

Seventh Adventist church

430 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6LJ.

Open Thursdays 5–6.30pm. Provides a 2 day supply of groceries.

Community stores

Members pay a weekly fee to shop at the stores.

Evelyn community store

Kingfisher Square SE8 5TW.

Open Tuesdays 2–5pm for store members who pay £3.50 a week to use the store. Free surplus food given out on Fridays. To become a member visit the Evelyn Community Store webpage. There is currently a waiting list.

Pepys community store

2000 Community Action Centre, 190-201 Grove Street, Deptford SE8 3PG.

Open Fridays 12–3pm for store members from the area of Pepys, Evelyn and Deptford who pay £3.50 a week to shop at the store.

Become a member by collecting an application form from the store or apply online on the 2000 Community Action Centre website.

Downham gleaning pantry

Brook Lane Community Church, 27-29 Brook Lane, Bromley BR1 4PX.

Open Wednesday 5–7pm, Thursday 9am–2pm and Friday 9am–2pm to people on low income or who are affected financially by the impact of COVID-19 in Downham. The membership fee is £3.50 a week.

To book an appointment contact downhammutualaid@hotmail.com.