Emergency Food Aid Supporting Communities over COVID and Christmas
Christmas will be a difficult time for many across Cambridge this year. At Cambridge Sustainable Food, we are continuing to support the community, through our emergency food response and Christmas veg parcels, to spread Christmas cheer to those in need this season. We would like to share a message of thanks to everyone who are supporting the emergency food efforts around the city, and take a moment to reflect on the growing need for food assistance in both Cambridge and the UK.
Since the start of the pandemic, we have been co-ordinating the city’s COVID-19 emergency food response, in partnership with Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance, to help support those struggling to access food during these troubling times. It has involved a huge community effort, with many partners including local businesses and the City Council, as well as an army of dedicated volunteers making a real difference to people’s lives.
“Just wanted to say a massive thank you for your help and support over the last four weeks. You all have been truly amazing and have made these current times more bearable.”
The emergency food response is made possible due to the hard work of all the amazing volunteers who are donating their time and energy working in the community food hubs, alongside preparing and delivering meals and groceries. An astounding 11,936 volunteer hours has been recorded for food preparation and delivery, with an additional 5,290 hours recorded via the community food hubs. We are so moved by all of their community support!
Volunteer chef preparing meals from donated food to go to the food hubs
Volunteers preparing vegetables for the community food hubs
These brilliant volunteers aren’t taking a break this Christmas period just yet. Many will be working hard to ensure the smooth running of the community food hubs and delivery of Christmas hampers to local families experiencing hardship in Cambridge.
Alongside emergency food aid, this Christmas we have been working in collaboration with the City Council, and the City Foodbank to spread joy and support to families in need, in the form of a festive hamper. The hampers (over 500) contain a range of non-perishable treats (provided by Cambridge City Foodbank), fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables donated from local producers (provided by CSF) and a gift (organised by the council). Last Wednesday saw the first of our hampers go out to the local community, delivered by our Christmas elves.
Volunteer drivers about to deliver the Christmas hampers
Christmas hampers ready to be delivered
CoFarm donations
Tis The Season to be Thankful …
We are so grateful to everyone who has supported our work in the community this year, from those volunteering their time, contributing financially and to all the local businesses, organisations and growers who have provided crucial food donations.
A big thank you to local organisations such as CoFarm Cambridge and CoVeg in Thriplow who have supplied free local vegetables throughout, as well as Cambridge Organic Food Company and Nationwide Produce for donating the fresh and seasonal vegetables for the Christmas hampers.
A special show of gratitude to Fitzwilliam College Cambridge and to Cambridge Dining Company (CDC), the sister business to the Cambridge independent restaurant group Cambscuisine, who are preparing and donating delicious, traditional Christmas dinners and puddings. These will go out to older people in sheltered housing, many of whom will be on their own this year, helping bring some festive joy during this difficult time. They will even be delivering them on Christmas Eve too!
A Time for Reflection
Covid-19 has exposed the fragilities and inequalities of our food system, a reality that has hit home with UNICEF UK funding UK groups for the first time in its history, of which Cambridge Sustainable Food are fortunate enough to be a recipient of. Since the start of the pandemic our emergency food services have seen increasing demand. We delivered over 113 tonnes of food via the 8 community food hubs by the end of August alone. Our holiday lunch scheme, set up to help families who are struggling to feed their children over the holidays, also saw nearly 8,000 meals delivered over this period.
“We are not surprised by the news that UNICEF are now funding domestic food poverty projects for the first time in their 70-year history, in light of the awful national and local situation whereby parents do not have enough money to feed their children. This grant will go towards our crucial work in Cambridge, supporting children and families at risk of food insecurity during the Coronavirus pandemic.”
Cambridge is the most unequal city in the UK, with food poverty already being a real issue even before the pandemic. Coronavirus is not going away anytime soon and we are being contacted by more and more people needing food support for the first time. If you would like to help support those in need this season you can still donate to our Christmas fundraiser. All donations will go towards the local emergency food response. If you or someone you know needs help accessing emergency food over the Christmas period see here for Christmas opening times.