Dorking Area Foodbank

Dorking Area Foodbank provides three days' worth of food for individuals and families struggling to put food on the table in a time of financial hardship. The service is run by volunteers and supported by the Trussell Trust.

They cannot provide long-term assistance but can signpost their clients on to other services.

To use the foodbank clients must first receive a voucher from a referral agency.

Dorking Area Foodbank works with a number of different agencies, including Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children's centres, health visitors and some charities.

Clients then bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for a three days' emergency supply of food.

A typical food parcel contains a minimum of three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable, tinned and dried foods that have been donated by the local community. The parcel can usually be adapted to meet special dietary needs, for example halal, vegetarian or gluten-free.

Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink and can signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.