Littlehampton Larder’s desperate plea for food donation

A desperate appeal has been launched by the Littlehampton Larder, run by homeless charity HOMElink, as the vital community service faces a serious shortage of the food needed to provide food parcels for needy families.

A sudden surge in those needing emergency three-day food parcels has seen the larder’s supply of tinned and pre-packed goods dwindle to an alarming low, with many shelves at the food store’s Ark centre, in the Littlehampton Arcade, left bare.

Juliette Webb, who works with HOMElink, the organisation running the Littlehampton Larder, said that the charity had less than a month’s worth of food to fill the emergency hand-out parcels.

She said: “We’re in dire straits and desperately need the help of the Littlehampton community.

“At the moment, we have only got enough food to last us for about a month. Most people that come here have between £10 and £20 to spend on food.

“They need our support to get them through the difficult times. But right now, if we don’t get donations, that support will cease to exist.”

On Thursday, the larder started to send out urgent letters to schools and churches in the area in an attempt to garner more support, but are still awaiting a response.

Last year, the organisation helped to feed more than 400 needy families and individuals, on average handing out one emergency food parcel a day. However, in January and February, this year, the larder witnessed an influx of around 700 per cent, with an average of seven packs being supplied on any given day. The larder is appealing for tinned and dried goods to be donated, as well as tea, coffee, rice and cereals.

To help, call 0844 880 0860 or visit the Ark or the Meadview Centre, off Lyminster Road.