A community project that is continuing to provide help to those in need during the national lockdown is expanding again by opening a fifth community surplus hub at the end of this month.

The 3food4u charity, which offers free food, home essentials, clothes and toys without assessment or referral, is launching its next hub on Thursday, January 28 from 1pm to 2.30pm and weekly thereafter.

This will be based at Zinc Arts, High Street, Chipping Ongar CM5 0AD and it means 3food4u will be able to operate six sessions a week.

The project was set up by the Rotary Club of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell and it is proud of the feedback it has been receiving. These messages include:

Mrs K said: “Really friendly welcoming staff. Very helpful, great with kids. Fantastic options even at the end of the day. No judgement.”

Mr B said: “People are very polite. And it is great to know that all this food would have been wasted if it had not been rescued. It's great to be part of this.”

Mrs A said: “I think it's just great to have such a place/organisation like this and I was very shy to come over here but once I walked in everyone was so welcoming and helpful. Thank you very much.”

Mr J said: “First time I've done this...bit apprehensive. Thought it was made painless by friendly attitude of staff.”

This Is Local London: A customer with a bunch of flowersA customer with a bunch of flowers

Ms L said: “This place is amazing, best emergency food support I've visited.”

Mr A said: 'To Whom this Concerns. Just to say the Foodbank service is fantastic and provides good help to us affected by the Covid-19 economic recession. Please keep it going as long as possible as it's a live line for those in poor economic state. My previous role before this time was fundraising manager at Shelter.”

Paul said: “A fantastic organisation no strings no questions no forms just 3food4u all welcome and lots to choose from friendly happy people just there to help if you need it.”

Jill said: “Everything had been thought through and was well organised with social distancing, masks and gloves for all the workers and name badges too.”

3food4u needs all kinds of donations and volunteers to assist. It also has a fundraising page at www.give.net/3food4u

The Rotary Club of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell is meeting via Zoom on Thursdays at 6pm during the pandemic.

Everyone is welcome and contact Pesh on 020 8500 2527 / 07973 166940 or email pesh@londonresidential.co.uk if you would like to attend.

This week’s guest speaker is nutritional therapist Kelly Mulhall and next Thursday (January 21), Marta Herrera, a global scholar hosted by RC of London, is due to speak.

For further information, visit www.loughtonrotary.org.uk and the club also has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rotarylbc