Inspirational Halifax project helping to feed those in need
A HOMELESS project is helping feed hundreds of people in Halifax during the coronavirus crisis.
Halifax Homeless and Community Kitchen opened in January last year and runs a kitchen in the town centre every Sunday serving meals and handing out food, toiletries and sometimes clothes to take away.
The coronavirus outbreak means the kitchen has had to be closed for now, but the volunteers who run the project have begun delivering food to those in need across the town.
Nicola Freemantle, from the project, said: “Since coronavirus
One mum said to me ‘thank you so much for the bag, I’ve not eaten for four days’
kicked off and everyone’s been isolated or ill, we’ve taken on a massive amount of referrals.
“Some are from social services, some are Young Carers Service, intervention teams, Sure Start, Mothershare, Calderdale Lighthouse, Focus4Hope.
“We’ve worked with all those along with mums and dads who have messaged us privately through Facebook and said ‘I’m really struggling, I haven’t got any money’ or ‘I can’t get out’ or they don’t have anyone to help them.
“So we’ve been dropping off food bags and parcels for the last three weeks.
“We’re up to around 85 families now that we’re dropping off to, over 300 people we’ve helped feed. It’s all funded by us, and all voluntary. It’s been really busy.”
Nicola says the people being helped by the project are from across the town, from Elland to Illingworth, and are given bags including cereal, milk, meat, bread, beans, tea, coffee, sugar, fruit and veg, and tinned goods so they can make meals.
Nicola said: “One mum said to me ‘thank you so much for the bag, I’ve not eaten for four days, I’ve fed the kids only on very minimal stuff, I didn’t know what I was going to feed them today because we’ve run out of food but now I can give them meals all week’. That message was amazing. I just sat in the car and cried because I just thought ‘that’s what it’s about’.
“A lot of these people we can continue to support. It’s a weekly thing for a lot of them so they know they will continue to be supported.
“Coming together to make sure these people are helped is vitally important. That’s what community is about. You should come together and help each other in a time of need.”
If you need help from Halifax Homeless and Community Kitchen, or would like to donate money or supplies, visit their Facebook page or email halifaxhomelesskitchen@aol.com.
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