A drop-in community project providing food and other goods to those in need is expanding.

The 3food4u initiative has been asked to open a community hub in Loughton, in addition to those services it holds in Waltham Abbey and North Weald.

This has been made possible thanks to the support of Loughton Town Council which is grant funding the Rotary Club service at The Loughton Club, 8, Station Road, IG10 4NX.

The first session will take place on Tuesday, September 29 from 11.30am to 1.30pm and then on a weekly basis thereafter.

Epping Forest Guardian:

3food4u offers free food, home essentials, clothes, toys and more to anyone who needs it. People do not need prior assessment or referral, they should simply drop in and they will be treated humanely with dignity and respect.

The Waltham Abbey sessions already take place from 1.30pm to 3.30pm every Monday and Friday at 13, Sun Street EN9 1ER.

There is also a weekly session in North Weald from 3pm to 5pm each Thursday at Queens Hall Community Centre, School Green Lane, North Weald, CM16 6EJ.

The Rotary Club of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell’s friends at Willingale Community Centre, led by Ann Redelinghuys, have donated some delicious organic vegetables including beetroot, shard, beans, carrots, horseradish and these will be available at the first session in the area.

Epping Forest Guardian:

However, 3food4u needs donations of all kinds of food (not fresh produce) and household items as soon as possible.

You can contact Pesh on 01992 842642 or email info.3food4u@gmail.com for further details. The project also has a fundraising page at https://www.give.net/3food4u

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

The guest speaker next Thursday will be Sara Elwes from Epping Forest Foodbank, while David Taylor of Brain Tumour Research is due to address the club on Thursday, October 8. The guest speaker the following week (October 15) is due to be Sharon Wyness from Property Styling.

If you would like to attend, contact Pesh on 020 85002527 / 07973 166940 or pesh@londonresidential.co.uk.

The club’s website is www.loughtonrotary.org.uk and their Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/rotarylbc