What a grand way to help resort cafe feed the vulnerable
THE local Liberal Democrat party have donated £1,000 and helped raise hundreds of pounds to support a Cleethorpes Café delivering meals to the vulnerable.
The Lib Dems joined forces with AfroCaribbean eatery Cafe Baraka, which has been providing meals free of charge to the vulnerable across North East Lincolnshire during the coronavirus pandemic. They said that they joined with the cafe due to the owners strong community ethos and willingness to help others.
Roy Horobin, from the Cleethorpes Liberal Democrat Party said: “When this pandemic started we got together and decided that we need to do something to support those who may start to struggle.
“So Les Bonner came up with the idea of joining with a local café to help them do some good. Cafe Baraka were the perfect partner because the owners Oumar and Suzy are so community orientated and have such a passion for helping people.
“So we set up a Gofundme page to start off with, which really took hold and we managed to raise over £800 through that. Our local party then donated £1,000 to the effort. “Since then we have had a team of five, Brian, Lousie, Sue, Les and myself and we have been doing deliveries every Wednesday and Friday.
“Each day we have provided around 50 hot meals to people and speaking to people on their doorsteps, you hear that this lockdown has caused a lot of people to really struggle.
“It is going to take a huge effort from everyone to get us back to normal and it will be very important that we come together to do so.”
As a result of the work they have been doing to help the people of North East Lincolnshire, one of the Lib Dems, Les Bonner, has been nominated to join the party’s Community Champions Hall of Fame. Acting leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “I have been amazed by the energy, commitment and creativity shown by members of the Lib Dem community during the crisis.
“I am so proud of people like Les Bonner who has worked tirelessly to help vulnerable residents and fight for the best possible support for people facing hardship.”
Les said: “I am touched to have been nominated for my work, but even prouder to be part of a team helping countless people facing hardship. I am a part of a large group of people from North East Lincolnshire, made up of Lib Dems and people with different political inclinations or none at all who have come together to work for the benefit of people in North East Lincolnshire who have needed help and support in these difficult times. I am deeply grateful to every one of them for helping to make our work so successful.
“I would encourage everyone to help those who are finding it hard to cope in whatever way they can during this difficult time.”
Cafe Baraka was nominated for a small business award last week after being shortlisted in the New Kid on The Block category at the Small Awards, which take place later this year.
If you would like to donate to the campaign, please visit its GoFundme page.