WE DON’T JUST HELP VETERANS ANYMORE
Free food event runs every week
A CHARITY that helps improve the lives of veterans is now supporting all members of society with its weekly free food event.
Tri Services and Veterans’ Support Centre, in Hassell Street, Newcastle, is run by volunteers who are passionate about supporting former servicemen and women and their families.
Since its launch in July, the charity’s community free food event has proved popular. It operates every Saturday, from 11am to 1pm, and no referral is needed.
Chairman Geoff Harriman says supermarkets have been ‘very generous’ since the initiative began.
As well as the weekly event,
Tri Services also has a well- stocked foodbank, which is run in collaboration with SSAFA Staffordshire (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), and is accessible to veterans whenever they are e in need.
Geoff said: “Veterans have access to the foodbank all week, and then we have our community free food event every Saturday.
“Anybody that’s in need can come along, no referral necessary, and take what they want.
“Since the start of the pandemic, we have given out around 15,000 to 20,000 meals.”
Kathy Munslow, SSAFA divisional secretary and case worker, added: “Veterans are very proud people, so we want them to feel comfortable with us and
open up and ask for help help. And veterans’ wives, even if they are widowed, they are entitled to support from us. They will always be a veteran’s wife.
“People who haven’t heard of us before may turn up to our community free food event and find out that we can help them. They might have a problem and didn’t realise that we were here and that we can help.”
Geoff added: “We don’t do this for praise and rewards – our reward is when a veteran says ‘thank you’.”
To find out more follow the charity’s Facebook page.