What we do

Everyone needs a little help sometimes.

Redundancy, a sudden illness, debt…or just finding it hard to make ends meet.

You can come to St Matt’s community larder and for a £5 donation select one or more bags of food.

The food on offer varies each week but we always have tinned food, fresh fruit and veg, meat and dairy, bread, rice and pasta. We usually have some goodies too like cakes and pastries.

You choose what is best for you and your household.

Who can come to the larder?

Anyone.

  • We aren’t a foodbank so you don't need a referral.

  • We don't run an appointment system or a membership scheme.

  • Just turn up on a Friday morning and you will be warmly welcomed.

  • We run a café alongside the larder each Friday, where you can sit, chill, chat …and eat cake!

Where does the food come from?

Our food comes from a variety of sources.

  • We buy heavily discounted food from FareShare, the largest food charity in the UK.

  • We buy food from supermarkets with money donated to the larder.

  • We collect surplus and short dated food from local supermarkets, usually after their closing time. This food would normally be thrown away.

  • So, we are helping the environment too by preventing food waste.

  • We receive food donations from local people and businesses.

  • Local schools often donate food to us after harvest collections or charity days.

 

How can I help?

We always need more food.

You can donate food to St Matt’s Community larder by dropping non perishable items into our donation crate in Tunbridge Wells Lidl. It’s on the way out of the store, past the checkouts.

Or You can drop food into the Bethel Hall between 8:30am - 11am on Thursdays.

Or You can donate money and we will use it to buy whatever food is most needed at the time.