On Wednesdays 2-5pm, St John's Waterloo (SE1 8TY) will be open for drop-off only of non-perishable food for Waterloo Foodbank and non-food items for Look Ahead. Volunteers needed!
In just six weeks, Waterloo Foodbank made home deliveries of emergency food to 4,200 people, an indicator of the scale of current need. During lockdown, St John's Waterloo is offering to be a non-perishable food-only collection point for the organisers until St John's Foodbank reopens, probably at the end of July. You can get more details from Joao Simoes-Brown (joaosimoesbrown@googlemail.com) and Giles Goddard (giles@stjohnswaterloo.org).
Look Ahead is now providing safe shelter in Waterloo for up to 130 people who have recently become homeless, particularly those who worked in hospitality and the "gig economy" but have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Lambeth North Deanery is supporting the initiative through Together Southwark. St John's Waterloo has offered to be a non-food collection point (a partnership has been secured for meal provision). Items currently required include:
personal hygiene items
underwear, clothes (male and female all sizes)
books and magazines
jigsaws and board games
colouring pens, pencils and paper
So, you're welcome to bring your donations this and subsequent Wednesday afternoons!