Chippy boss launches fund to serve up food parcels to those in need
A chip shop manager has set up a Go Fund Me page to continuously support those who need help with buying food.
Michelle Gray, manager of Seaham Chippy on South Railway Street, has launched the project on the back of the chip shop offering free hot meals to individuals and families.
People will be able to donate to the Go Fund Me page which in turn will allow Michelle to buy the food necessary to create the food parcels for those who need them most.
Michelle revealed to the Echo her reasons for setting up the scheme and the level of support that she has received from people who she has helped.
She added: "I was surprised at how many people were coming forward for the free meals and I wanted to do something to help further.
“Obviously we started with the one free meal and that’s all good for the one day that they receive that, but I wanted to look at eliminating the stress of the rest of the week.
“It’s hard asking for help as a lot of people feel like their pride is damaged but I couldn’t imagine how I’d feel if I lost my job and couldn’t afford to feed my kids.
"I’m now seeing some people who I have helped have now managed to get back into work and have started to donate things like
tins of beans to me to help others."
The food parcels consist
of a mixture of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and tinned food – providing
enough meals to last people at least five days, with Michelle adding a personal touch.
She said: "Because I’m not a charity or a food bank, I can personalise the food parcels to suit to each individual or family and I can also supply fresh food such as meat or veg.
"A lot of food banks will just give people a food parcel and that’s it, there will be no say in what goes into it but I’d rather tailor it so that I know the food will be eaten,
“I’d hate to think that kids were going hungry because the food parcel had things in it that they didn’t like.”
To donate to the fundraiser, visit https://www. gofundme.com/f/z2navkhelping-hand?member= 10243818&sharetype=te ams&utm_campaign=p_ na+share-sheet&utm_ medium=social&utm_ source=facebook