Volunteers serve up more than 180,000 meals

The joint project by The Well Church, based at Church Road Methodist Community Hub in St Annes, and Wesley’s Larder includes hot meal deliveries across the Fylde and free food

collections.

John Ardern and Peter Haworth, joint chairman of community service committee at Lytham Rotary Club, presented the cheque to Paul Caddy and the Reverend Stephen Heath, minister of

Church Road Methodist Church.

Paul and Stephen, along with Tracy Hope, lead a strong team of volunteers who run the project.

Sat Chase, Lytham Rotary secretary , said: “The community service committee will continue to help this very worthwhile cause to help needy families in these very difficult times.”

Church Road Methodist Church supports around 60 households per week with food hampers and 180 hot soups. Wesley’s cooks 80 hot meals weekly which The Well Church delivers

while Wesley’s Larder supplies food hampers.

Rev Heath added: “The donation is going to the joint project between Wesley’s Larder and The Well Church based at Church Road Methodist Community Hub.

“Their support will not only enable us to make food available to those who need it most, but it is also a huge encouragement to the volunteers needed to staff the larders and cook and

distribute meals.

“As well as the funding from Rotary we have received grants for the Fylde Covid Response Fund for equipment and food as well as individual donations for which we are grateful.

“It shows how the community works together with Fylde Council to support local people.”

The project also stops food from going to landfill with volunteers collecting produce from Tesco and food poverty charity FareShare to then distribute to residents.

Rev Heath added: “We estimate that over three years we have distributed the equivalent of 186,383 meals .

“We have distributed on average 90 per cent of what we collect from FareShare so that equates to approximately £58,000 value of food distributed directly to local people.

“According to figures from Tesco, we have collected 48,880 kilograms of food.

“It is quite incredible especially when we have no paid staff and it is all achieved through volunteers.”

Wesley’s Larder operates Monday to Saturday from 10am until 12.30pm from Church Road Methodist Church. Wednesday teatime takeaway is offered 5pm to 6.15pm from the Community

Centre at Lower Lane, Freckleton. And Thursday lunchtime hot meal delivery takes place across the borough.

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