The Hart Foodbank, which supports residents across Fleet and the surrounding district, has issued an urgent appeal for specific food and hygiene items to keep up with sustained high levels of local demand. Organisers are requesting that community members donate fruit juice, pasta and cooking sauces, sweet biscuits, mashed potato packets, tinned vegetables, and deodorant for both men and women.
The charity, which is an initiative of Christians Together in Fleet and Church Crookham, relies heavily on public contributions to provide three-day supplies of food to those in crisis. According to The Trussell Trust, an organisation that supports a national network of foodbanks, more than 90 per cent of all distributed food is provided through public donations. While national data indicates a slight reduction in the number of emergency parcels distributed during 2025, the overall level of need across the country remains 45 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
There are now 21 collection points across the region where residents can drop off their donations. These include the Hart District Council reception on Harlington Way, as well as major supermarkets such as Waitrose in the Hart Centre, Sainsbury’s in Fleet and Church Crookham, and Morrisons in Fleet. Several local churches also serve as collection sites for the charity.
In addition to highlighting the items in short supply, the foodbank has clarified which goods it can no longer accept to ensure resources are used effectively. Volunteers are asking the public not to donate baby milk or baby food. Furthermore, since November 2016, the foodbank has requested that residents stop donating bagged sugar, as it is no longer included in standard emergency parcels and is now provided only upon direct request.
Established in September 2011, the charity has grown to operate four centres in Fleet, Hook, Darby Green, and Odiham. Despite Hart being ranked as the least deprived district in England, organisers note that local residents still face significant financial challenges and that experiencing hardship in an affluent area can often come with additional, unique pressures.
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