Food support in Medway

Find out more about organisations and services in Medway which offer food support below.

Food bank timetable

  • Gillingham Street Angels, food bank - 9am to 1am at 43 Skinner Street, Gillingham, ME7 1LG

  • All Saints Food bank Centre - 10am to 1pm at The Magpie Centre, 33 Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, ME4 5NE

  • Hands of Hope Foundation - 10am to 4pm at 143 Watling Street, Gillingham, ME7 2YY

  • Chatham Salvation Army, Bags of Hope - 10.30am to 1pm at Church St, Chatham, ME4 4BT

  • The Hope Centre Foodbank - 12.30pm to 1.30pm at The Hope Centre, 336 to 338 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1BT

  • Soup Kitchen Chatham, Time for the Homeless - 7pm at H. Samuel, 2 to 4 Military Road, Chatham, ME4 4JA

  • Kent Community Helpers - check the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for food drop information.

  • Gillingham Street Angels, food bank - 9am to 1pm at 43 Skinner Street, Gillingham, ME7 1LG

  • Medway Food Bank - 9.30am to 3.30pm - visit the Medway Food Bank website for more information

  • Christ Church Luton, food table - 10am to 12pm in the church hall at Christ Church, Luton Road, Chatham, ME4 5BT

  • St Justus Rochester - 10.30am to 12.30pm, The Fairway Rochester ME1 2LT

  • Strood Food Bank Centre - 11.30am to 1.30pm at The Lower Hall, St Nicholas Church, High Street, Strood ME2 4TR

  • The Hope Centre Foodbank - 12.30pm to 1.30pm at The Hope Centre, 336 to 338 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1BT

  • Twydall Food Bank Centre and Coffee Shop - 12.30pm to 2.30pm at Twydall Evangelical Church, Goudhurst Road, Twydall, Gillingham ME8 6LQ

  • Kent Community Helpers - check the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for food drop information.

  • Gillingham Street Angels, food bank - 9am to 1pm at 43 Skinner Street, Gillingham, ME7 1LG

  • MidKent College Centre Gillingham - 9.30am to 11.30am at Mid-Kent College, Gillingham Campus, Medway Road, Gillingham ME7 1FN

  • Medway Food Bank - 9.30am to 3.30pm - visit the Medway Food Bank website for more information

  • Chatham Salvation Army, Bags of Hope - 10am to 12pm at Church St, Chatham, ME4 4BT

  • Open Doors Cafe Chatham - 10.30am to 3.45pm at Chatham Evangelical Church, Ordnance Street, Chatham ME4 6SE

  • The Hope Centre Foodbank - 12.30pm to 1.30pm at The Hope Centre, 336 to 338 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1BT

  • Medway Street Angels, soup kitchen - 7pm at Clover Street car park, Chatham Town Centre, Chatham

  • Kent Community Helpers - check the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for food drop information.

  • Gillingham Street Angels, food bank - 9am to 1pm at 43 Skinner Street, Gillingham, ME7 1LG

  • Medway Food Bank - 9.30am to 3.30pm - visit the Medway Food Bank website for more information

  • The Net Community Cafe, Walderslade - 9.30am to 12pm at 70 Silverweed Road, Walderslade, Chatham ME5 0QX

  • Hands of Hope Foundation - 10am to 4pm at 143 Watling Street, Gillingham, ME7 2YY

  • The Hope Centre Foodbank - 12.30pm to 1.30pm at The Hope Centre, 336 to 338 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1BT

  • St Mark's Food Bank Centre, Gillingham - 1pm to 3pm at St Mark’s Church, Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 1BJ.

  • Medway Street Angels, soup kitchen - 7pm at Clover Street car park, Chatham Town Centre, Chatham

  • Kent Community Helpers - check the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for food drop information.

  • Gillingham Street Angels, food bank - 9am to 1pm at 43 Skinner Street, Gillingham, ME7 1LG

  • All Saints Food Bank Centre - 10am to 1pm at The Magpie Centre, 33 Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, ME4 5NE

  • Hands of Hope Foundation - 10am to 2pm at 143 Watling Street, Gillingham, ME7 2YY

  • Chatham Salvation Army, Bags of Hope - 10.30am to 1pm at Church St, Chatham, ME4 4BT

  • Strood Food Bank Centre - 11.30am to 1.30pm at The Lower Hall, St Nicholas Church, High Street, Strood ME2 4TR

  • The Hope Centre Foodbank - 12.30pm to 1.30pm at The Hope Centre, 336 to 338 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1BT

  • Twydall Food Bank Centre and Coffee Shop - 12.30pm to 2.30pm at Twydall Evangelical Church, Goudhurst Road, Twydall, Gillingham ME8 6LQ.

  • Nigerian Community Association Kent and Medway - 6pm to 9pm at the Innovation Centre Medway, Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME5 9FD

  • Time for the Homeless, soup kitchen - 8pm at H. Samuel, 2 to 4 Military Road, Chatham, ME4 4JA

  • Time for the Homeless, Soup Kitchen - 8.45pm Boat Lane Car Park, opposite The Eagle Tavern, 124 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1JT

  • Kent Community Helpers - check the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for food drop information

  • Medway Food Bank - 9.30am to 1.30pm - visit the Medway Food Bank website for more information

  • Magdalene Ministry - 9am to 3pm at Mercy Lodge, Victoria Road, Walderslade, ME5 9EN (appointment only - please email info@magdaleneministry.com to book a collection slot).

  • Gillingham Street Angels, food bank - 9am to 1pm at 43 Skinner Street, Gillingham, ME7 1LG

  • Nigerian Community Association Kent and Medway - 10am to 5pm at the Innovation Centre Medway, Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME5 9FD

  • St Mark's Food Bank Centre, Gillingham - 10am to 12pm at St Mark’s Church, Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 1BJ.

  • Open House Project Rochester, soup kitchen - 2pm to 4pm at Quaker Meeting House, 3 Northgate, Rochester, ME1 1LS

  • Medway Street Angels - 7pm at Clover Street car park, Chatham Town Centre, Chatham

  • Kent Community Helpers - check the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for food drop information.

  • Nigerian Community Association Kent and Medway - 12pm to 5pm at the Innovation Centre Medway, Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME5 9FD

  • One Big Family, soup kitchen - 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the bottom of Meeting House Lane, Chatham Town Centre, ME4

  • Kent Community Helpers - check the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for food drop information.

Our partners

The All Saints Community Project provides:

  • food support
  • community activities
  • advice
  • training.

Address: The Magpie Centre, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, ME4 5JY.

Call 01634 845 419 for information on food support or visit the All Saints Community Project Trust Facebook to find out more.

Caring Hands in the Community is a registered charity that helps feed and support people who are homeless, vulnerable and at the margins of the community.

Address: 15a to 16 New Road Avenue, Chatham, ME4 6BA.

Call 01634 409 768 or visit the Caring Hands website for more information.

Christ Church Luton run a social café with a food table, where people can help themselves to the items they need.

We do not require any proof of need, but if people are taking large amounts, then we will ask them about size of family and help them find other support if required.

Dried and tinned foods are usually available, as well as toiletries and on occasion fresh veg from the café.

We have limited funds where we can do a shop for people who need us to.

Address: opposite Haywards Garage on Luton Road, Chatham, ME4 5BT. The café meets downstairs in the church hall.

Call 01634 845 537 or email andrea@luton.church for more information.

Chatham Salvation Army offers food support in the Chatham area.

Address: Church St, Chatham, ME4 4BT.

Call 01634 843 689 and leave a message. Messages are checked each day.

You can also visit the Chatham Salvation Army website for more information.

Our mission is to help the homeless, needy and vulnerable people of all ages in the Medway towns.

We supply food parcels, including fresh food.

Address: 43 Skinner Street, Gillingham, ME7 1LG.

Our shop is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and Saturday from 9am to 12pm.

Call 07827 298 882 or visit the Gillingham Street Angels Facebook for more information.

Hands of Hope Foundation are a charity organisation offering general support, information, advice, skills and training for an easy integration back into the community.

They also offer food support for low-income families and the homeless, available for collection and delivery from Monday to Friday, except for Wednesdays.

Address: 143 Watling Street, Gillingham, ME7 2YY.

Call 07794 595 996 or email admin@handsofhopefoundation.org.uk.

You can also visit the Hands of Hope Foundation Facebook for regular updates and more information on how to get support.

The HAF programme is available to all children in Medway and free for children who receive free school meals.

All activities will be accessible to book on the MedwayGo website.

Email go@medway.gov.uk or visit the MedwayGo website for more information.

Follow the Kent Community Helpers Facebook group for the latest information on food drops across Medway.

Magdalene Ministry operates food collections and delivery from Monday to Thursday to sheltered accommodations for:

  • homeless
  • children out of care in sheltered accommodation
  • students
  • young and older people.

Magdalene Ministry are also open for food collections on Fridays from 12pm to 2pm by appointment only.

Please email beforehand to book a slot.

Address: Mercy Lodge, Victoria Road, Walderslade, ME5 9EN.

Email info@magdaleneministry.com or visit the Magdalene ministry community Facebook for more information.

Medway Food Bank will provide a minimum of 3 days non-perishable emergency food items to local people in crisis.

We work in partnership with frontline care professionals to identify people in need.

Call 01634 757 057 or email info@medway.foodbank.org.uk for more information.

You can also visit the Medway Food Bank website for more information.

The Household Support Fund provides support to vulnerable Medway households.

It’s for those most in need of support to help with significantly rising living costs.

The scheme closes on 31 March 2023 or until the budget is spent.

More about the Household Support Fund.

MSA is a charity that supports the local homeless community, as well as others in need within the Medway area.

They run soup kitchens every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Call 07564 829 189 or visit the Medway Street Angels website for more information.

You can also receive a referral for food parcels through the Medway Street Angels Facebook.

NCAKM is a community group set up to support the socio-economic and welfare needs of Nigerians living in Kent and Medway.

We provide food items and hygiene products to those in need, including individuals, families, elderly and vulnerable.

NCAKM operates a delivery service to residents in Medway on a weekly basis between Friday and Sunday.

Address: Innovation Centre Medway, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9FD.

Email info@ncakm.org or visit the NCAKM website for more information.

One Big Family is a small, dedicated charity, supporting homeless and vulnerably housed people in Kent.

We provide to those in need through our regular outreach work and soup kitchens. Items include:

  • food
  • drink
  • clothing
  • toiletries
  • other vital items.

Our weekly soup kitchens run on Sundays at 6.30pm and provide fresh homecooked food and food parcels.

Address: bottom of Meeting House Lane, Chatham Town Centre.

Emergency food and essentials parcels can be delivered Wednesdays and Fridays, (with exclusion of 25th December and 1st January). Food parcels can be delivered via a referral from a partner agency.

Call 07865 928 174 or email info@helpingthehomeless.org.uk.

You can also visit the One Big Family website or One Big Family Facebook for more information.

The Open House Project is a charity which offers hot food, drinks and company to homeless or vulnerably housed people from across Medway.

Find out more on the Open House Project Rochester Facebook.

Second Chance Medway provide a range of crisis support and offer quality food for discounted prices through their community supermarket project.

Find out more on the Second Chance Medway website.

A non-profit small group of volunteers who go out daily helping and advising the homeless and vulnerable of Medway, Swale and Maidstone.

They help those in need by supplying food parcels and other items.

Call 07496 108 583 or email timeforthehomeless@outlook.com.

You can also visit the Time for the Homeless website for more information.

The Hope Centre distributes 5 to 7 days’ worth of food once each month to individuals and families in need.

The Hope Centre Foodbank is open Monday to Friday from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Address: The Hope Centre, 336 to 338 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1BT.

Call Ishola Familusi on 07572 417 862 or 01634 829 765.

You can also email thehopecentre@mail.com.

Support for children and families

The early help teams for Medway are available for families.

For any additional support please contact your local children and family hub:

  • Chatham: 01634 338 833
  • Gillingham: 01634 338 877
  • Strood: 01634 335 533
  • Wayfield: 01634 337 733.

Medway families can book a 'Hello Baby' appointment and speak to a peer supporter about how to get feeding off to the best start before your baby arrives. You can do this by emailing medch.mbn@nhs.net or calling 07791 043 190.

If you need support when your baby arrives, you can also speak to a peer supporter or call the health visitor duty line on 03001 233 444.

More information can be found on the Beside You website.

Medway Health Visiting service can be contacted through the on-duty Health Visitor line 03001 233 444.

Find out more information on the Medway Community Healthcare website.

Healthy Start is an important scheme to improve the health of low-income pregnant women and children under the age of 4 years.

It offers a voucher of £4.25 per week to spend on selected groceries.

You can also get access to vitamins which are recommended for children under 5 and during pregnancy.

Find out if you are eligible or apply online on the NHS website. Call the helpline on 03456 076 823 for guidance and support when applying for the Healthy Start voucher scheme.