A new initiative proving meals for those in need with support from local businesses has launched. The Cornwall Community Kitchen is a collaboration between Cornish caterer Fee’s Food (owned by Fee Turner) and chef Tim Spedding. Finding they had little work during the coronavirus lockdown, they are instead using their time to prepare meals, with the help of volunteers, and donating them to Wadebridge and Bude food banks, and DISC Newquay – a charity which supports homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
“This is clearly a difficult time for everyone, but it is especially trying for those most at risk of food poverty. Food banks and charities in Cornwall are seeing unprecedented demand, so we started Cornwall Community Kitchen to help in any way we can”, said Fee Turner.
Meals are prepared on weekends, with the Fee’s Food kitchen operating as normally as it can during the week. On average, 630 meals have been prepared each weekend for the last three weeks.
As well as providing meals, Cornwall Community Kitchen aims “to support small suppliers, farmers, and fishermen, many of which saw their primary income disappear overnight when hotels and restaurants closed.”
The initiative, which is financed by fundraising, has captured the imagination of local businesses, including Will Herrmann of Porthilly Spirit Distillery and Porthilly Spirit Festival.
“We’re so pleased to be helping out with the fundraising effort. As well as an initial cash contribution, we are donating £2 from every bottle sold through porthillyspiritdistillery.com, and inviting our customers to add their own donation to purchases, if they wish to – and we’ll match all the money raised.” said Will.
Tim Spedding added: “All money generated through our fundraising efforts will be used solely for purchasing ingredients and delivering food to those most in need. On average, the raw materials which go into a meal for two cost £2.60 – so donations really can go a long way.”
For more information, visit www.porthillyspiritdistillery.com/cornwall-community-kitchen, or www.feesfood.co.uk/pages/covid-19.
