Call usCOLLECTING FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED
OUR FOOD COLLECTION DROP OFF POINTS ARE SHOWN BELOW.
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO READING PEOPLE THROUGH FOOD BANKS
Reading Lions provide a Free box which you place outside. We visit and empty weekly, with no contact required. Our Heroes input is minimal. It creates a local community initiative which engages with family, friends and neighbours alike.
Whether a regular donation of a can of food, Christmas stock or a commercial clear-out, we also make one off collections direct from individual donors.
Food you donate will be forwarded to vulnerable individuals, groups and families in Reading and appreciated more than you ever know. Making you a Hero in another’s eyes.
The following are in great demand:
Tins of fruit, tuna, cooked meat
Pasta & sauces, Long life milk
Coffee, Squash, Jam, Peanut butter
Instant porridge, Cup a soup
Noodles, Instant custard, Toiletries - NOW Prescription Glasses too
PLEASE DO NOT DONATE if you or if any member of your household or someone within immediate contact display symptoms of or are suffering with diagnosed Covid-19.
Prescription Glasses also collected here. Millions of people Worldwide have seen sight restored since 1967
DESIGNATED DROP OFF POINTS
Please respect that these are offering assistance alongside their primary services and that you adhere to distancing rules when parking and dropping off.
| Tilehurst: |
| 7 Greenfinch Close, RG31 4SY |
| 43 Fairway Avenue, RG30 4QA |
| 108 Usk Road, RG30 4HU |
| 8 Armour Hill, RG31 6JS |
| 84 Thirlmere Avenue, RG30 6XL |
| 34, Hayward Way, RG30 4QP |
| The Cooperative Shop, The Colonade, Overdown Road (inside the shop on the left) |
| Victoria Pub, 1 Norcot Road, Reading, RG306BP (outside the front entrance) |
The Ironing Lady, 848, Oxford Road Reading, R30 1EL. |
| Meadway News 151 The Meadway RG30 4AP |
| 50 Park Lane RG31 5DT |
| 14 Highbury Drive RG31 5JL |
| Fledglings Day Nursery, Little Heath School |
| Fledglings Day Nursery, 51 Armour Hill RG31 6JP |
| 98 Cotswold Way RG31 6SR |
| 61 Westwood Glen, RG31 5NW |
| Village Surgery, Westwood Road RG31 5PP |
| 120 Overdown Road, RG316NJ |
| 29 Fullbrook Crescent RG31 6RX |
| 19 Farm Drive RG31 4EU |
| Nationwide Building Society, 100 School Road RG31 5AU |
| Purley: |
| Barn Owl Day Nursery, 1110 Oxford Road |
| Caversham: |
| 48 Rotherfield Way, Emmer Gree. RG4 8PL |
| 110 Elizabeth Court Gosbrook Raod, Caversham RG4 8BJ (Box inside main entrance) |
| 23 Southview Avenue, Caversham RG4 5AB |
| AW Cycles, 110 Henley Road, Caversham, RG4 6DH between 10.00am and 4.00pm. (please note: The shop is operating a closed door policy - Please ring the bell and a member of staff will collect). |
| Woodcote Village Wine & Beer, 4 Cavendish Road, Caversham, RG4 8XUe Way Post Office & News, |
| Cooperative Shop, 100 Southview Avenue, Caversham, RG4 5BB |
| Londis Shop 320 Hemdean Road, Caversham RG4 7QS |
| Woodcote Way Post Office & News 30, Woodcote Way, Caversham, RG4 7JH |
| The Weller Centre, 110 Amersham Rd, Caversham RG4 5NA |
| Calcot: |
| J's Food and Wine, 102, Royal Avenue, Calcot RG31 4UT |
| Coley: |
| 2 Trelleck Rd RG1 6EN |
| Whitchurch Hill: |
| 2 New Buildings, Whitchurch Hill RG8 7PW (An open community site is being sought) |
| Southcote: |
| 43 Kenilworth Avenue RG30 3DL |
| University Area: |
| Chancellor House Surgery 6 Shinfield Road RG2 7BW |
| Woodley & Earley: (**on behalf of Woodley & Earley Lions Club) |
| 4 Woodway, Woodley. ** |
| Day Lewis Pharmacy in Hurricane Way. ** |
| Parkers Estate Agents Wokingham Road - at the junction. ** |
| Parkers Estate Agents Crockhamwell Road. ** |
| Mas News Brecon Road, Woodley. ** |
| Twyford: |
| The Floor Store, Twyford. ** |
| Additional sites use private group collection boxes |
Please DO NOT DONATE If you or if any member of your household or someone within immediate contact with you are displaying symptoms of or are suffering with diagnosed Covid-19.
Questions – Email us at: secretary@readinglions.org.uk
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Email here to assist with collections/deliveries locally Contact us
Email here if your business/property can be used as a drop off point Contact us
To donate on-line and support Reading Lions Club efforts click here 
WHO ARE WE SUPPORTING?
We will be donating our May food collection to 'New Beginnings' - a Reading charity dedicated to the relief of poverty, financial hardship and homelessness.
During the pandemic they have increased the opening of their Community Fridge to every weekday providing food and living essentials to an average of 50 individuals and 23 families every day. Once a week they also provide a hot meal, cake and fruit to takeaway to those in need.
We are also donating our food collections to the local foodbank managed by Whitley Community Development Association in Whitley. They need all the help we can give as demand is increasing.
"Thank you Lions for your support. Your donation today to Whitley Community development association is really appreciated."
We are all living in unprecedented times but Reading Lions Club is here to help when it can. Contact us if you know of someone in need of assistance or of a local cause that needs support.
Our wider community has been fantastic in offering support but as we return to life outside of lock down, many volunteers will need to return to work. Unfortunately for many, the need for support continues. All food donated will be delivered by Reading Lions to charities, groups and individuals in need in Reading.
We cannot thank those participating individually, to ensure that others are not going hungry today. You are all Heroes.
A big thank you to Lillian, her neighbours and everyone collecting for us on a regular basis - your contributions are amazing!
The Lions Club of Reading is a registered charity (No. 1126848) - Members volunteer their time supporting many in need in Reading.
WE ARE HELPING DURING THE CRISIS IN OTHER WAYS TOO:
- provided a new TV for a young person with mental health challenges living in isolation
- provided bags of food and bamboo mugs for the 'New Beginnings' charity to feed the needy and homeless
- supported the local volunteer 'blood bike' riders to enable theme to continue their valuable work
- supported the local 'love of scrubs' team so they could purchase materials to make scrubs and scrub bags
- donated supplies of mops, buckets and cleaning liquids to a local Women's refuge for use in their homes.
- provided a donation to the ICU nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital so they can easily access healthy food whilst 'on the go'.
See our Facebook page for more great photos
We continue to look at new ways to help those in need. Contact us if you know of someone in need of assistance or of a local cause that needs support. The Lions Club of Reading is a registered charity (No. 1126848) - All club members are volunteers offering their time freely to support those in need in Reading.
The One Reading Community response hub action line is now live - call if you need help or can volunteer
Reading Voluntary Action
The phone line is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Residents, volunteers, businesses and organisations can also get in contact with the One Reading Community Hub online at https://www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirussupport
