City centre cafe is helping those in need

Cafe 21 in Sunderland city centre is giving away free food to those on Wearside who need it most.

The cafe, on Vine Place in the city centre, has placed tins and packets of food on a table outside for those in need to come along and take whatever they need.

Owners Dave Potter and Stan Johnson, who also owns the Jungle Bar, are using their profits, along with donations from other charities to give people the supplies that they need.

Stan has explained to the Echo why the duo wanted to help those who need it most, especially after a difficult year for both businesses.

He said: “Basically we use Cafe 21 and the Jungle Bar to fund the charity work that we are doing.

"We’ve also teamed up with some other charities such as food banks who

sometimes give us some tins that we can give out to those who need them.

"People can just come along and take whatever they need, no questions asked. It has been a tough year for everyone and we just want to help people get themselves back on an even keel.

Since opening, Cafe 21 has also been helping out homeless people on a daily basis, giving them a hot meal, clothing and supplies.

Stan added: “I think we have about seven or eight homeless people coming into the cafe each day and we will give them a free hot meal. We have also been giving them some clothes and wash kits, anything to help them out really.

"It’s just our way of doing our bit, it’s not because we have too, it’s because we want too.”