Feed Edinburgh This Winter

Aim

We are Empty Kitchens Full Hearts. We turn surplus food into meals that are delivered across Edinburgh, free of charge and without judgement

We are Empty Kitchens Full Hearts

We turn surplus and donated food into nutritious meals that are delivered across Edinburgh, free of charge and without judgement. By first meeting a basic need for food, we aim to support people out of food insecurity and towards access to help with facing challenges such as financial difficulties, mental and physical health problems, and social isolation.

As the costs of energy, food, and many other basic necessities rise, the most vulnerable in our community feel this burden even more disproportionately, and that's why we're asking for your help. 

People who reach out to us for support face many challenges. There are always times when things go wrong, and extra support is needed, especially over the winter months when people are facing heartbreaking choices between heating and eating, and in many cases are unable to afford to do either.

Their life circumstances include facing significant mental and physical health challenges. Living in working poverty where their wages are less than benefit levels. Being made suddenly redundant and having no savings to keep them going until benefits start, which is often delayed.  Being elderly and disabled. Are a family or single person household living in long term poverty.  Living in temporary accommodation without proper cooking facilities. Recovering from trauma such as abuse or an accident or sudden chronic health issue.  Having severe learning and support needs.  

Empty Kitchens Full Hearts launched in April 2020 as an emergency response to the COVID19 crisis, when an incredible body of volunteers came together to help others in need of food support. Since then, we've cooked, packed, and delivered more than 1.6 million meals.

Each meal pack to feed someone for a day costs us around £2 to make including labour costs, packaging, delivery and follow up welfare calls, including supporting access to other relevant services and initiatives.

We have:

• Cooked and delivered more than 1.6 million meals across Edinburgh
• Re-purposed more than 500 tonnes of food that would have ended up in landfill
• Worked with local organisations to provide meal packs at community hubs
• Resumed providing a weekly hot food service on site at Granton
• Partnered with local organisations to provide soup for adult learning programmes and after school activities

With your help, we can keep feeding Edinburgh this winter. 

If you're in a position to do so, we're asking you to consider donating your energy rebate (around £66) to help us feed people who would otherwise go without. 

This project successfully funded on 23rd January 2023