The commitment of Reading’s local community food hubs shines bright this holiday season. Many people across the country continue to struggle to make ends meet, including those in our town. Below is a selection of voluntary community groups working in neighbourhoods across Reading that will be in service over the holidays. Some sites specialise in fresh food collected from supermarkets, cafes, etc; others offer cooked meals; some supply long shelf-life food and other items like toiletries and clothes. No referrals are necessary to access these services. All sites offer warm welcomes and friendly faces (even behind the masks).

Dee Caf: Unit 1, Montague House, 12 Spey Rd, Tilehurst RG30 4DG

• Normal service: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3pm – 3:30pm
• Offer: Community fridge and cooked meals
• Contact: 07738 689557
• Holiday service: Christmas lunch on Christmas Day from 2:30pm

CIRDIC: St. Saviour’s Church Hall, Berkeley Ave, RG1 6JT

• Normal service: Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 10am – 1.30pm; Sunday sit-down meal: 9 – 10am
• Offer: Cooked meals, long shelf-life food, clothes and showers
• Contact: 0118 9502536
• Holiday service: Limited service over Christmas. Food will be given outside similar to service during Covid lockdown.

Foodshare at Wycliffe (Baptist Church): 233 Kings Rd, RG1 4LS

• Normal service: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm
• Offer: Fresh food and long shelf-life food
• Contact: 07395 242372 or 0118 9299911 or foodsharewycliffe@gmail.com
• Holiday service: Open over the Christmas period as follows: 23/12, 28/12, 30/12 and 04/01 before reverting to our normal schedule; no additional gifts, stockings or food parcels.

New Beginnings: Queens Arms, Gt Knollys St, RG1 7HL

• Normal service: Cooked meals: Tuesdays 6-7pm; Warm drinks, fresh produce and long shelf-life food: Wednesdays, Fridays 12pm – 1pm, Thursdays 6 – 7pm
  Offer: Fresh food, cooked meals, long shelf-life food (days vary), toiletries and clothes
• Contact: 07421 998208
• Holiday service: Food services as usual, toiletries and clothes resume Fridays 6-7 in January. Open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day 9am until evening. Santa’s Grotto on 22/12 between 2-5pm, register at gigi@newbeginningsreading.org. Deadline to register 13/12.

Sadaka: Fairview Ctr, Gt Knollys St, RG1 7HL

• Normal service: Saturdays, 11:30am – 1pm
• Offer: Cooked meals, vegetarian option is available. Long shelf-life food bags & toiletries
• Contact: 0118 3246565
• Holiday service: Open on Christmas Day

The Way Ministry: Queens Arms, Gt Knollys Street, RG1 7HL

• Normal service: Sundays 3pm – 4pm
• Offer: Cooked meals, dessert and fruit
• Contact: 07421 998208
• Holiday service: Christmas dinner served on 19/12 from 3pm to 4pm, then resumes on 09/01

Weller Centre: 110 Amersham Road, RG4 5NA (pictured above)

• Normal service: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 9:30am
• Offer: Fresh food and long shelf-life food
• Contact: 0118 947 5828 or admin@wellercentre.org.uk
• Holiday service: Open normal hours (weekdays 8am – 4pm) through 22/12 then open 10am – 3pm 29/12, 30/12 31/12. Emergency food parcels will be available throughout that time but no fresh produce available. Normal service will resume on 04/01. Christmas gifts available only to residents of Amersham Road Estate and immediate surrounding area.

Whitley Community Development Association: 252–260 Northumberland Avenue, RG2 7QA

• Normal service: Weekdays, 9am – 2pm
• Offer: Community café indoors, long shelf-life food and fresh produce
• Contact: 0118 374 0052
• Holiday service: week of 20 December, open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30am to 1pm; no Christmas Eve parcels; Closed on 27/12, 28/12; Open Wednesday 29/12 10am to 12pm; Closed 30/12; Open Friday 31/12 10am to 12pm; Closed Monday 03/01; Open Tuesday 04/01 at 9:30am onward.

ReadiFood: 31, 33 Boulton Road, RG2 0NH

In addition to voluntary community groups, ReadiFood – Reading’s food bank is in operation over the holidays, supplying emergency food parcels by referral. These parcels are delivered to a home or office location. Contact them on 0118 987 2672. Holiday service:

• Week commencing 13 December – extra Christmas food bags delivered with all food parcels.
• Week commencing 20 December – all parcel recipients from ReadiFood will receive double food parcels this week, to cover for 2 weeks of deliveries. This will cover all referrals received, that we are able to cover deliveries for, up until and including Christmas Eve.
• Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December Bank Holidays – service closed.
• Wednesday 29 December, Thursday 30 December, Friday 31 December – emergency phone cover at ReadiFood 10am -2pm, each day. There will be one delivery team available to undertake emergency deliveries on each day up to 2pm. The warehouse and office will close at 2pm.
• Monday 3 January 2022 Bank Holiday – service closed.
• Tuesday 4 January 2022 – office and warehouse for ReadiFood will reopen with normal working hours.

Street Support Reading

The website www.streetsupport.net/reading is a source of information for those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.