Norfolk Feeds 5000 is a research project which aims to establish the extent to which the Christian community across Norfolk is meeting the simple command of Jesus to "feed the hungry".
Christian churches, groups and individuals across Norfolk meet the needs of the hungry and the thirsty every day of the year through foodbanks, free community meals, homeless projects, soup runs, Messy Church and other activities.
A simple survey has been conducted to attempt to quantify the extent to which this is happening and the findings of the survey will be published here, including many of the stories about the projects which feed people throughout Norfolk.
The project is supported by Celebrate Norfolk, Network Norfolk, Christian Aid, the Diocese of Norwich, Good News for Norwich & Norfolk and is named after the Bible story of the Feeding of The 5000.
If your Christian food-related project is not featured in our case studies and you would like us to include you, please send details, a fact file, a picture and web links to us by clicking here.
The research and reporting team behind NorfolkFeeds5000 is from Network Norwich & Norfolk
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(Author: )Norwich projects offering free or cheap food
Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council and The Feed, have put together a list of providers offering free or pay-what-you-can meals and food services for people in the Norwich area, many provided by Christian charities and churches.
Norwich social supermarket helps thousands
A social supermarket in Norwich, run by a Christian charity, has been offering support to thousands of people over the festive period helping them to meet their food costs.
Churches across Norfolk feed 7000 people every month
New research has revealed that Christian groups and churches across Norfolk feed an incredible 7,000 people every month of the year, following the example and command of Jesus Christ to ‘feed the hungry’.
Do Drop In - Sheringham Methodist Church
'Do Drop In' community cafe opened in Sheringham Methodist Church in May 2016. Those who attend enjoy a jacket potato with filling plus dessert and a 'joke of the week'.
Wednesday Lunch Club - St Luke’s Church
The Lunch Club at St Luke's Church in Norwich provides a nutritious two course meal for elderly people in the community, as well as good company and a varied programme of entertainment.
Mid Norfolk foodbank – Churches Together groups
The Mid Norfolk foodbank began in 2012 and last year supplied 1,849 emergency three-day food parcels to people in financial crisis across Dereham, Swaffham and Fakenham.
SOUL Community - SOUL Church
Every Friday, SOUL Church serves a free hot meal to the community – and transport from the city centre so people are able to access it.
Friends and Neighbours - The Church in Loddon
The monthly Friends and Neighbours group in Loddon is a place for those who have been widowed, male or female, to share a meal or afternoon tea together as well as support and friendship.
Norwich foodbank and FISH Clubs
Norwich foodbank is a phenomenon. In the last year it has given out 8,790 food parcels to families in crisis – that represents an amazing 79,100 meals. It also runs school holiday clubs for low income families at multiple sites around greater Norwich.
Thetford Foodbank – Thetford Christians Together
Last year Thetford Foodbank distributed 719 emergency food packages for 1,397 people living in Norfolk in desperate need - 392 of which were children. This equates to around 13.5 tonnes of food distributed by the team of volunteers.
Doorway Women's Services - The Magdalene Group
For women and young people who experience sexual exploitation in Norfolk, The Magdalene Group provides a lifeline. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunchtime they host a drop-in with a hot meal at their homely King Street premises in central Norwich.
Fresh expression of church - Fountain at Shouldham
The Fountain at Shouldham is a 'fresh expression' of church for those who do not currently belong to a 'traditional' church. The ministry, which regularly involves food, has been running for five years in Shouldham, West Norfolk.
Messy Church - St Mary's and St Michael's, Reepham
The two course meal at Reepham Messy Church gives helpers and families the opportunity to eat and chat together and build a sense of community.
Monday Lunch Club - St Augustine’s Church
St Augustine’s Church in Norwich host a lunch club every Monday for vulnerable members of the community. The club is run by volunteers from the church and from local Christian charity City Saints in Action.
Meet and Eat - Lighthouse Sheringham
The Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham offers a community meal every Thursday lunchtime, comprising a two-course set meal for only £5, open to anyone in the community of any age.
The Box – Sprowston Methodist Church
The Box is a long-running weekly youth group run by Sprowston Methodist Church every Thursday evening. This year along with the games, group activities and Christian based talk, the team began trialling a free sit down evening meal for the young people.
Pathway Cafe - Great Yarmouth Team Ministry
The Pathway Cafe and Resource Centre based at the Mission Ministry in Great Yarmouth serves around 90 three-course dinners on weekdays plus soup and a one dish main course on Saturdays to the marginalised in the community.
Community Matters Cafe - Cromer Methodist Church
The Community Matters Cafe in Cromer is a free meal facility for anyone in the community, but particularly socially excluded people struggling with issues of finance, substance abuse, poor mental health or the elderly who wrestle with isolation.
Messy Church – Thetford Church of the Nazarene
In October 2012 the Church of the Nazarene in Thetford began hosting Messy Church. Almost five years later this Messy Church, which always includes a home-cooked evening meal, has become a fully functioning church appealing particularly to families.
MakeLunch @ Jubilee – Aylsham Community Church
MakeLunch @ Jubilee is run by Aylsham Community Church, as part of a national initiative that works with churches to help fill the holiday hunger gap. They offer a free hot meal and fun activities to families struggling on tight budgets.
CAP Food Shop - Surrey Chapel
This food project, run by Christians Against Poverty from Surrey Chapel in Norwich does exactly what it says on the tin...people who are struggling are taken for a food shop!
Foodbank and FISH Club - King's Lynn Churches
King’s Lynn Foodbank started in October 2011 as an initiative of Churches Together in King’s Lynn and now feeds over 300 people a month, providing emergency food and support that is clear, practical and full of compassion.
Messy Church - Sprowston Methodist Church
The meal served at Messy Church gives the children and their parents the opportunity to sit down and socialise with other families - it is an activity that is an important part of family life.
Norwich Soup Run - Norwich Citadel Salvation Army
The Norwich Soup Run functions every night of the year, with the exception of Christmas day. Based at the Charity Stall at the bottom of the Haymarket, teams of volunteers serve food and drink to people in need.
Donations of Surplus Food – The Horstead Centre
Feeding up to 60 residents a day at this Norfolk Broads residential activity centre can lead to the problem of surplus food but Centre Manager, Josie Barnett ensures it is not wasted by donating surplus food to Bishopbridge House night shelter in Norwich.
The Well – Gorleston Baptist Church
The Well is an outreach of Gorleston Baptist Church offering a place of welcome and community to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the borough of Great Yarmouth, welcoming around 60 people every Monday and Thursday for a three course meal.
Newton Flotman Community Lunch - Cell Church
Eighteen months ago Andy Cox, a Community Outreach Worker employed one day a week by Cell Church through the Rural Ministries Foundation initiated a Community Lunch in Newton Flotman, which he runs with a team of local volunteers every month.
Poppies Community Cafe - Blofield Church
Poppies Community Café, part of Blofield Church’s community outreach, is open every Wednesday of the year from 10am-12 noon offering friendship and company to those in the Mid Norfolk village who may be lonely and have no one to talk to at home.
Soup Run and Foodstore – Norwich Vineyard
Norwich Vineyard church runs two food projects - a weekly Soup Run for Big Issue sellers in Norwich city centre and a monthly Foodstore project, collecting food donations from church members and creating two-day boxes for local families.
Paper features Norfolk churches which feed 7,000
A special newspaper supplement documenting scores of churches and Christian projects across Norfolk which took part in the NorfolkFeeds5000 project has been published.