From left to right, Margot Bell (H&F Foodbank) Cllr Wesley Harcourt, Chris Paul (QPR player), Leader of H&F Council Cllr Stephen Cowan, Lee Hoos (QPR CEO), David Wheeler (QPR player) and Daphine Aikens (founder and CEO of H&F Foodbank)
QPR have teamed up with the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank to help tackle food poverty in White City.
Rangers will hold a food and coin collection on 18 November at Loftus Road ahead of their game against Aston Villa.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council funded the ground-breaking foodbank – The Hub @ 75 in Bloemfontein Road to support the ongoing work of the H&F Foodbank.
“The support of QPR and their players for this great cause shows the amazing community spirit we have in this borough,” said Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of H&F Council.
“The disastrous rollout of Universal Credit has now doubled the number of people needing help from the Foodbank. It’s sad to see they are still necessary in a country that has the fifth biggest economy in the world. But with the help of the extraordinary volunteers we are continuing our mission to tackle food poverty in H&F.”
Saturday’s donations of non-perishable food will go towards three-day emergency food packs that are given to people who are referred to the foodbank when in crisis.
In addition, QPR in the Community Trust has become an official referral agency of the H&F Foodbank, which means they are able to issue vouchers for three-day emergency food packs to people who need them.
The three collection points on Saturday are:
- the Family FanZone, Play Football Shepherds Bush in South Africa Road, W12
- outside QPR’s main reception at Loftus Road stadium in South Africa Road, W12
- corner of Loftus Road and Ellerslie Road, W12
Community hub
The Hub @ 75 on White City Estate offers advice, signposting and support services alongside the traditional functions of the H&F Foodbank.
It has a dedicated H&F Council-funded Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advisers to assist foodbank clients, alongside PC and internet access.
The council has also:
- provided the premises at 75 Bloemfontein Road
- enabled refurbishment of the facility through its contractor Amey, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme
- funded two full-time CAB advisers who work across H&F
- funded a centre manager and covered other running costs for H&F Foodbank with a grant from the council’s third sector investment fund
The H&F Foodbank aims to help create long-term sustainable solutions to help residents so they no longer need foodbanks.
When Saturday comes
“The Foodbank is a great cause,” said QPR midfielder David Wheeler. “It is essential that we put something back into the community and assist those people in desperate need of help. It is sad to see people struggling to have enough food to eat in this day and age. So we are working together with our neighbours to have a huge collection on Saturday at Loftus Road.”
H&F Mayor, Cllr Michael Cartwright, will attend a half-time presentation at Loftus Road this weekend after the fundraiser.
The money raised and food collected on Saturday will provide a huge helping hand to The H&F Foodbank.
“I am thrilled that QPR are supporting the H&F Foodbank and helping us to raise awareness,” said Daphine Aikens, CEO of H&F Foodbank. “QPR are helping to give a voice to the voiceless with their collection day on Saturday that will assist us in ensuring that no one in Hammersmith & Fulham should go to bed hungry.”
How you can help
H&F Foodbank, which is part-funded by Hammersmith & Fulham Council, is most in need of:
- tinned fruit and vegetables
- long life juice
- powdered and UHT milk
- tinned rice pudding and other long-life desserts
- tinned meat
- toiletries (such as soap, shampoo and deodorant).
You can find your closest donation point at H&F Foodbank’s website. The foodbank cannot accept any fresh produce.
Make a cash donation to the foodbank online.
