Village Kitchen Warm Spaces

Who are we?

Village Kitchen (formerly Playpen Cafe & Lunch Club at Home) has been supporting seniors in Dollar, Muckhart and across wider Clackmannanshire since the outset of the Covid pandemic. Reacting to the crisis early, we began sending out meals-on-wheels to elderly people sheltering at home - many with a range of health and mobility issues, and often living alone. This service was a real lifeline for people during what was a very worrying time for everyone, when many elderly were cut off from friends and family. The project continues to this day and we have sent out close to 10,000 community meals. 

As soon as we were able, we began to safely bring our lovely beneficiaries out of their homes to join us at the Hive Community Centre in Dollar for a social, hearty lunch. Our team of friendly volunteer drivers bring less mobile guests to us, with most guests being in their 80s and 90s. Guests are treated to a three-course lunch, often with live entertainment. Some of our guests love to get up and have a dance or sing along!

Community impact

We send out between 200 and 250 two course meals every month as well as providing meals to patients coming home from Forthvalley Hospital as part of the Forthvalley Home from Hospital Partnership.

Our Lunch Clubs have welcomed between 25 and 35 guests each week.

Our services have a hugely positive impact on our beneficiaries physical health, providing quality and nutritious meals to ensure a healthy diet with plenty of meat, fish, fruit, veg and diary. 

We also greatly enhance quality of life and independence for our local seniors, allowing them to care for themselves in their own homes, preparing their own meals. This, combined with the opportunity for social interaction at our lunch club and with our meals-on-wheels delivery volunteers, greatly improves mental health and wellbeing. Our services help ensure our seniors stay connected and have access to equal opportunities in our community.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Our elderly beneficiaries and our organisation as a whole has been greatly affected by the economic crisis we all find ourselves in. Spiraling energy and food costs are putting pressure on the most vulnerable in our community including the over 65s. As a third sector organisation, we are also feeling the impact with ever-increasing costs of food, food packaging, rent and utilities; combined with a drastic decrease in food donations from our local supermarkets and charity partner Fareshare. 

In these difficult times, community lunches can be a vital service that local elderly can rely upon - food security, a warm space and a chance to meet with frie. We want to create a long-term sustainable community lunch for the coming year, providing a warm and welcoming space, with high quality, nutritious and plentiful meals for our guests.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Money we raise will be put towards weekly community lunches, purchasing high quality food items to create hearty, healthy and delicious menus! It will also help with vital core costs - contributing to the rental of the community space and utilities.