Your support through FoodBox can make a real difference to people’s lives. And it’s as simple as helping them put food on the table.
Donate food and toiletries
FoodBox relies on your support to provide help to people in crisis. Almost all of the food that goes into our parcels is donated by people in the local community.
How to donate
You can organise donations in a variety of ways:
- Bring your donations directly to FoodBox at the Rose Community Centre, or a volunteer driver will collect from you.
- Bring your donations to one of our collection points at ASDA Hounslow, Co-op Boston Manor Road, Brentford, Morrisons Brentford or Sainsbury’s Isleworth.
- Organise or contribute to a street or neighbourhood collection in your area, via the Garden Collection Initiative.
- Run a food drive for FoodBox either as an individual, business, school or other religious or non-religious organisation.
- Donate as a local catering business, just like Finecrown Bakery, Hen Corner and Rye by the Water. School kitchens can also donate surplus supplies.
FoodBox donations can be delivered directly to the Rose Community Centre, Hawthorn Road, Brentford, TW8 8NT.
We are open to receive donations Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 1pm, and Saturday, 10am – 12pm.
If you can’t come in person to FoodBox, we will try to arrange a volunteer driver to collect your items.
Donations we need
We are grateful for all non-perishable, frozen and fresh food donations, but the regular food items required include:
- Tinned & fresh potatoes or mash
- Tinned meat – casseroles, corned beef, ham
- Tinned fish – tuna, salmon, sardines
- Tinned vegetables – sweet corn, peas, carrots, beans
- Tinned and fresh fruit
- Pasta and pasta sauces
- Tomato sauce
- Tea
- Coffee
- Sugar
- Cereals
- Jam/preserves
- Small cooking oil
- Tinned soup
- Baked beans
- Rice
- Bread
- Butter
- Eggs
- Flour
- Tinned custard
- Rice pudding
- Squash
- Long-life milk
- Baby food
We often have requests for halal and gluten-free foods, alongside food suitable for diabetics, so these food types are greatly appreciated.
Pet food and non-food items, including toiletries, toilet rolls, cleaning products and nappies of various sizes are all essential donation items.
Our stock levels vary from week to week, meaning our requirements are often changing. For the most up-to-date shopping wish list, please download our Shopping Wishlist using the button below.
Donate money
FoodBox is run entirely by volunteers. Your financial donations help to run and provide support to the charity in addition to emergency food.
Your personal donations can go even further through adding Gift Aid. By saying “yes” to Gift Aid you can help FoodBox to do more, and at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid is a government scheme allowing charities to reclaim the tax that has already been paid on donations from UK taxpayers. If you choose to Gift Aid, the government will add an extra 25p to every £1 you give to FoodBox.
If you would like to make a donation directly to FoodBox, you can do so by contacting the treasurer at treasurer@hounslowfoodbox.org
Fundraising events are a great way for our supporters to raise money while having fun in the community. From individuals finding inventive ways to raise money to clubs and associations creating fundraisers, FoodBox not only helps the community, but it also engages the community. Our supporters have washed cars, organised art competitions, run marathons around Griffin Park, sold second-hand books, made and sold jewellery, organised a classic car show and even had their heads shaved. There’s no limit to the inventive ways you can help to raise money.
Organising school & business days
Make a Difference Days and corporate volunteering are great ways for you and your school or business to help FoodBox.
Many businesses and schools want to give something back to the community, so why not help organise a corporate or Make a Difference Day?
We can tailor a Make a Difference Day to suit you, or talk to you about ideas you may already have. By getting involved in worthwhile activities alongside our volunteers, you and your colleagues will learn more about FoodBox and help raise further awareness in our local community.
It’s not unusual for corporate volunteers to keep in touch and volunteer at FoodBox, sharing both their time and individual skills with us.
School visits are also part of our wider learning activities, helping to raise the awareness of children and adults in our local community and the difficulties they face.
FoodBox has been awarded Volunteering Organisation of the Year 2020 by the University of West London.
I want to volunteer
You can make a real difference to someone’s life through volunteering with FoodBox, as well as your own.
FoodBox is a local community project where everyone is a volunteer. We understand that whilst emergency food can’t solve poverty it can provide a lifeline while other issues in people’s lives are addressed. Some of our volunteers were once helped by FoodBox to get them through difficult times and now volunteer so that they can help others.
We are inclusive and open to anyone who shares our values of making a positive impact on our community. Volunteers often find the experience enriching and it can help to build their own confidence. There’s always an opportunity to learn new skills and share your own skills with others.
Many volunteers come to us through Ealing & Hounslow Giving, where local people can find opportunities to support their community.
FoodBox welcomes young volunteers. This might be part of a HeadStart programme or Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, but that’s not necessary.
If you like being in a friendly, empathetic and professional environment where everyone is committed to providing the best service and your voice can be heard, why not join FoodBox? Please take a look at our video. You’ll receive an induction and training to help you prepare for volunteering. Everyone gives their time freely to FoodBox, but we will reimburse your expenses incurred while volunteering.
Volunteer roles
From driving and administration to helping in our vegetable garden, there are many ways you can get involved with FoodBox.
At FoodBox, we’re always looking for new volunteers to join our thriving team. There are over sixty members working within a range of activities that you could get involved in:
Application
If you’d like to apply or know more information, please contact Sunny by email at info@hounslowfoodbox.org.uk or complete the relevant application form via the links below and email it back to us.
We will require you to provide a couple of references from referees who have known you personally for at least 2 years, but are not a partner or relative.
Once we’ve received your application form, we’ll be in touch to arrange a conversation.
“I’ve been a volunteer at Foodbox since September 2018, and it has been one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had. All of the volunteers are friendly and supportive of one another, so getting the hang of things was a very smooth process. The tasks that you do at the community centre range from stock-taking to directly helping out people who need the services provided by the centre. Helping out every weekend helped me build my confidence and gain transferable skills. My favourite part is being able to help so many different people and hear their stories. I would definitely encourage young people to come and volunteer – it’s a great way to make a difference to those in need and make friends too!”
“I have been a volunteer at Hounslow Foodbox for a couple of years: at first I just came in for a few days in the school holidays, but for the last year I have been volunteering more regularly, on most Saturday mornings. From my very first day at the foodbank, I was welcomed in by the kind atmosphere and dedicated volunteers. I decided to become a volunteer to try to help my community in a more direct and positive way. However, it also counts towards the volunteering part of your DofE, therefore attracting many young people, who you will quickly become friends. When volunteering: I make food parcels, log and put away donations, and on quieter days measure out sugar, tea, coffee or rice into smaller bags to go into the food parcels. Volunteering at the foodbank gives me a sense of purpose, makes my Saturday mornings productive and gives me a broader outlook, seeing more of the community. I hope many of you will join us in volunteering!”
