+ est. £1101.75
The Lunch Club: Committed to combating hunger and loneliness, one meal at a time. Join us in making a difference in our community!
by Richard Pike in London, Greater London, United Kingdom
We are starting off one day a week with a view to opening an extra day every 3 months, until we are a Monday-to-Friday service. With extra days there will be extra costs and any funds secured beyond our initial target with go towards these costs. Our ultimate goal will be to eventually have our own central Streatham space where we can store food, cook, serve and support all in one place.
The Lunch Club was started by Richard Pike who, after working for 10½ years as an HR Director in London, decided to leave the corporate world behind and start up a charity for the benefit of the Streatham community, where he has lived for the past 28 years. He has brought together a small team of Trustees and Volunteers who offer their time and efforts to make a difference in our local community and are dedicated to helping those most in need.
Our mission is to provide regular meals, social interaction, and support to vulnerable individuals who are facing poverty or financial hardship. We do this by serving up nutritious, freshly cooked hot lunches to people who find it hard to provide this for themselves or their loved ones. We understand that the struggle to put food on the table affects not only individuals but entire families. We offer this in a safe and welcoming environment, allowing people to connect with others and for us to support them with any issues they might be facing by acting as a gateway to other charities and support services.
By providing this service we hope to care for people’s physical and mental wellbeing. It is a holistic initiative that combines meals, social engagement, and collaborative efforts to support the lives of those who need it the most.
Funding for our Lunch Club project is critical due to the pressing need to address food insecurity and social isolation issues among vulnerable individuals in our community. We are nearing the Winter months, when people struggle the most, with some facing that awful decision to ‘heat or eat’. Many, particularly the elderly and disadvantaged, are at risk of these life struggles and your contributions will help ensure the continued provision of a safe space for communal meals, fostering social connections, and promoting physical and mental well-being. Your contributions will help us take away some of the concerns people are having to navigate in these tough times.
The Lunch Club will mainly rely on the Streatham retail community and food distribution groups for donations of surplus food, which will be the lifeblood of our service, but we will occasionally need to purchase additional food. Your donations will also cover the hiring of a Streatham community venue, with its kitchen and dining areas, which will act as our central Streatham base until we are able to move to a venue of our own. We also need funds for an additional fridge, serving equipment, extra crockery and cutlery and protective clothing such as aprons, gloves, hairnets etc., amongst many other items.
Your support will be key to our success, and together, we can make a positive and lasting impact.