St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Centre in Southend-On-Sea has recently relaunched its powerful Hungry Cupboard initiative: a year-round community campaign ensuring vital food support reaches those who need it most.

Originally launched three years ago, the project has now been revitalised with fresh energy, new supplies and a dedicated team determined to make a real difference. Hungry Cupboard’s remarkable feature is the people who are behind it: people who have experienced homelessness, addiction, prison and deep trauma are now leading the project with courage, purpose and hope.

Matt Fright, who has been part of the initiative since day one said:

“Life was so tough for 27 years — drugs, jail, no family, no friends. SVP Southend helped me put my talents to good use and now I wake up every day with passion and purpose. The Hungry Cupboard has given me hope and now it’s helping others in our community who are struggling too.”

Matt’s journey reflects what the Hungry Cupboard stands for: turning lived experience into leadership, transforming pain into purpose and ensuring no one in Southend in left behind.

What is Hungry Cupboard?

Hungry Cupboard is a community-driven program that encourages local people, businesses, schools, churches and organisations to take practical action against food poverty. Participants can request a custom-built cupboard from the SVP Centre (complete with unique 3D-printed decorations designed by members of their Pioneer Programme) and use the cupboard as a dedicated collection point for non-perishable food donations. If you are a charity and want the project supplying to your foodbank that can also be arranged.

Once the cupboard is in place, the local community takes the lead in filling it with donations; neighbours, staff, parishioners or students fill it with donations week by week. SVP drivers then collect the items every 2-4 weeks as part of their regular collection routes, which ensures a steady supply of essential food reaches those most in need. The centre also provides ongoing guidance, support and resources ot help each cupboard thrive and build a sense of local ownership.

In a time of rising costs and increasing struggle for both individuals and families, the Hungry Cupboard offers both hope and a practical solution.

Daniel Cauchi, Centre Manager at SVP Southend explains:

“Food poverty has never been more visible than it is today. Every week we meet people choosing between heating and eating. The Hungry Cupboard allows communities to step in and be part of the solution. When a workplace, a school or even a small group takes responsibility for filling a cupboard, they’re directly helping us keep people fed, safe and supported. It’s a simple idea — but in the current climate, it’s transforming lives.”

The Future of Hungry Cupboard

The SVP team hopes to expand Hungry Cupboard beyond just Southend; they are looking at covering the borough and eventually the whole of Essex. However, this growth depends on your involvement. They do not just want people to host cupboards, but people who talk about the initiative are equally as valuable.

How can I get involved?

 

Getting started is as simple as:

  1. Visit the Hungry Cupboard page on the SVP website: https://svp.org.uk/st-vincents-southend/local-svp-groups
  2. Contact Dan or Nesper: [email protected] / [email protected]
  3. Order your cupboard (which includes a fee to cover materials, construction, decoration and delivery)
  4. Start collecting donations

The SVP Centre will stay in touch and provides you with ongoing support for the cupboards (including maintenance and repairs if needed). Your efforts help to ensure that the Centre can provide vital assistance to those in need all year round.

Visit the St Vincent de Paul website to contact the Centre and learn more about the journey that Hungry Cupboard has been on.

If you already have a Hungry Cupboard, let us know how it has helped your community to provide support for those in most need around us.

Contact Michael: [email protected]