HUNDREDS of packaged meals were delivered to community support groups to help feed those in need in Reading and Wokingham on Monday, January 9.
The Rotary Club of Maiden Erlegh took 240 meals to New Beginnings, Whitley Community Development Association and Share Woodley.
This was the first batch of 2,500 frozen meals prepared by chefs from The Thomas Franks Foundation at Leighton Park School as part of its Feeding Communities project and the rotary club’s new initiative.
Funding for the meals came from the Reading Charity Art and Craft Fair at the end of October.
Scott Trathen, the club’s community service team leader, took part in the inaugural drop-off and said: “I was overcome with the scale of it all, these organisations are really well-organised and have so many people coming through the doors, mums with children, refugees, everyone. I’ve seen the best of people I’ve ever come across in my life.”
“At Share Woodley, they even have a lunch brunch for school kids during the holidays where they can do activities and eat food.
“The sense of community you see in places like the Whitley Community Development Association is amazing, especially with them having the cafe right next to their food surplus.”
He described working with The Thomas Franks Foundation in providing high quality food as ‘magic’, citing their willingness to go above and beyond as a key factor behind their positive working relationship.
Mr Trathen added that the hubs he visited are not just tackling food poverty but also food waste, obtaining items from stores and distributors who would otherwise have thrown them away.
Throughout January, Rotarians will continue delivering batches of food to the established distribution organisations the club has partnered with. These include: Churches in Reading Drop-In Centre, Woodley Food Bank, Wycliffe Share, New Beginnings, Whitley Community Development Association, Ukraine Centre and Link Visiting Scheme Wokingham.
The rotary club is also working alongside SHAREs in Wokingham, Woodley, Shinfield, Finchampstead, Winnersh and Crowthorne.
In some cases, the meals will be heated and served to users at sit-down lunches and dinners. All packages are clearly labelled with ingredients and cooking instructions.
Distribution was scheduled for January to help alleviate the pressure of the cost of living crisis on individuals and families at a time when increased energy prices will have the greatest impact.
The Thomas Franks Foundation launched the Feeding Communities initiative in 2019 to help those struggling to access food in the UK and beyond.
Of the project, the rotary club’s president Paul Cunningham said: “This initiative will reach more people in one go than any other events we have organised so far.
“We are very proud to be working with The Thomas Franks Foundation and Leighton Park School to help those in need in our local community.
“We are also delighted to be working in partnership with the distribution charities who are doing such a brilliant job.”
For the past two years, the Rotary Club of Maiden Erlegh has worked to provide food to distributors on a smaller scale in an attempt to spread ‘love and support’.
According to Mr Trathen, the club received requests for food at the start of the pandemic, which led to them donating £300 donations to Wycliffe Baptist Church’s food share and Share Woodley.
Last year’s Art and Craft Fair provided the income required to establish the new and improved project.
