Buy a meal for person in need
SCHEME TO FEED HUNGRY AT CHRISTMAS
THE People’s Kitchen is a charity which has been providing hot meals and vital support for homeless and disadvantaged people in Newcastle for 35 years.
Following the outbreak of Covid19, volunteers have seen a surge in demand for its services due to a substantial amount of job losses and people being furloughed, leaving them unable to put food on the table.
During lockdown the charity has been delivering a takeaway service seven days a week to ensure the city’s most vulnerable are not going hungry.
It is distributing an average of 150 meals each day – and that demand will not stop over during the cold winter months.
Maureen Armstrong, 53, fundraising manager, said: “It’s been an awful year for everyone but for our vulnerable friends it has been really hard.
“Many of them have mental health issues and being able to come along for a meal and have a chat with volunteers makes a huge difference to them.
“The numbers have certainly increased since lockdown. Many of our friends were taken off the streets during the first lockdown, which was great, but now we are noticing they are homeless once again.
“We are also seeing many people who have lost their jobs come to us and while waiting for universal credit.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see so many people in need of our services.”
The People’s Kitchen has launched its annual Christmas Feed a Friend for a Fiver campaign, asking for kind-hearted Geordies to pledge £5 to pay for a three-course hot meal for someone who might otherwise have to go without.
The Christmas Day event is usually hosted at the charity’s Alison Centre base.
However, social distancing rules mean the usual indoor festivities aren’t going to be possible – so the charity is making alternative arrangements.
Maureen said: “We are still providing a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, but this year it will have to be a takeaway.
“We are determined to make sure people have a good time still and we will have 15 to 20 volunteers on the day.
“We will hand out presents too. For some people they will be the only gifts they will receive. We know this year, more than ever, that people may not have disposable income.
“But just £5 can make such a huge difference to someone’s life.”
The People’s Kitchen has once again teamed up with NEoffers.co.uk to collect hot meal donations following last year’s appeal, which raised more than £50,000.
Each £5 donated buys hot food for someone in need this Christmas.
Those wishing to donate can do so on the neoffers.co.uk website. Search on ‘donate a warm meal’.