Originally HITS was set up to help Homeless people throughout the Teignbridge area and although we continue to offer support to the Homeless our services have shifted and extended out to the wider community to include support for individuals, families and people in crisis suffering food poverty. People that we have, and continue to help, include those who are homeless, victims of domestic violence, ex-service personnel, the elderly, families in poverty, disabled people, ex-offenders and anybody else who needs assistance. We have sent out in excess of 10,000 food parcels in the last 12 months alone!
What we do
We are a local charity supporting local people.
We provide a number of different services to people in need. Our support is on a case-by-case basis. We collect food and other goods, and distribute them via referral agencies. We provide toiletry, food and household crisis packs, and can also provide baby packs and help for pets if needed.
Why our services are needed
It is reality that in 21st Century Britain, people are increasingly having to come to foodbanks in order to survive. HITS aims to help as many local people as we can, ensuring that we help to improve local needs and improve the communities around us.
Each food parcel we provide is aimed at providing support for 5 days emergency relief. The food parcels offer a balanced diet and include things such as juice, milk, bread, sausages, fresh fruit and vegetables, cakes, tinned produce such as soup, beans, vegetables, rice, pasta, tea or coffee, sugar, cereal, and tinned meat meals. The size of each food parcel is made up based on the size of each family and is carefully put together by one of our 50 strong team of volunteers. Obviously, parcels may vary throughout the seasons depending on what donations are made by the partners that support us. We also supply toiletry packs, cleaning and laundry products subject to availability.
And of course, it is equally very sad that, as a country, we waste millions of tonnes of food each year. We work very closely with local and major supermarket chains and businesses to reduce food waste and encourage others to think about others who need the help and support of HITS.
Fuel is a major cost in the running of our operation so where possible so where possible we ask the people we supply to collect their food parcel. We appreciate not all clients have access to transport and where this is the case, we make delivery in one of our vans (which are not sign written) so no one will know where the delivery is from.
For local people, it’s about helping out other local people.
About the charity
Homeless in Teignbridge Support is Registered Charity Number 1097540. It works only in the Teignbridge area.
The point of contact for matters pertaining to the charity need to be addressed to the trustees.
Owing to the nature of its work, HITS maintains a Safeguarding Policy and a Vulnerable Person Policy.
The charity has won awards, and both it and its volunteers are highly regarded within the statutory and charity sectors for their dedication and professionalism.