Offer A Helping Hand With Meals

Friday, 21 April 2023 12:00

Meal Mates has been set up by a local charity to help families relieve the pressure of cooking dinner in a new community campaign.

Households are encouraged to cook more or give extras to help other families who are struggling to put food on the table.

Caring Cooks was inspired to start the initiative by its founder, Melissa Nobrega, who set up the charity by cooking for needy households.

It was decided the charity would go back to its roots with a new community project to help create bonds between neighbours.

CEO Yvonne Corbin says, by getting to know our neighbours, the community will grow stronger.

"We all know that there is a massive crisis at the moment with the cost of food, the cost of living, everyone is really suffering."

"I just thought how can we pull together as a community to build an initiative that supports families in need through the sharing of home-cooked meals."

Islanders who are interested in taking part can contact their local parish hall to see if they know of anyone in need of help, or by talking to friends and family to see if they know someone.

"It's an act of kindness of such, so if you identify a family, or if you cook too much food as we all do, rather than waste that food, offer it to a neighbour, offer it to a family member, offer it to somebody who might be struggling."

"It just creates huge social value within the community."