LGP gets recognised for fighting food poverty
The Holidays Markets were initially developed by Preston City Council and local schools in response to increasing local and national concern in regards to ‘Holiday Hunger’. The pay as you feel model, uses surplus food from FareShare and fruit & vegetables from Lets Grow Preston to help families and children most in need, access to food during the school holidays. These food markets are often delivered in schools, church halls and community centers.
During the Covid pandemic (April – September) Preston City Council in partnership with FareShare & Lets Grow Preston supported:
∙ 23 holiday markets, 2 food pantries, 11 food banks and a further 3 meals on wheel schemes. An additional 2 food pantries have since been developed.
∙ On average 1440 families were supported per week. Over 47520 food parcels were delivered and provided 570240 meals.
∙ The partnership with Lets Grow Preston ensures that families are continuing to receive healthy nutritional food, as well as providing the local communities the opportunity to engage in wider food related educational projects, which Preston City Council support.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic the staff and volunteers at Let's Grow Preston are continuing to deliver food from fareshare to two schools and two community hubs each week.
The Mayor of Preston presented Let's Grow Preston with a City Hero Award award for recognised outstanding support given to the City of Preston during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020/21.
I would just like to say a massive thank you for your ongoing support in collecting and delivering our food for our food hub. With your help since December we have been able to deliver 1000 bags of food to local families in need via the local primary schools. You also helped us deliver 1500 food bags during the first lockdown by supplying us with fresh fruit and vegetables from the community gardens and also supplied families with fruit and veg pots to grow at home. It’s been an amazing achievement as a team and I know how much the families have appreciated the help that they have had. Your volunteers have been amazing. We couldn’t of done the project without your ongoing help and support. Thanks again.
-Christine Clitheroe
St.Cuthberts Church