QPR Ambassador Andy Sinton appeal to Help Feed London’s families
QPR partnered with City Harvest earlier this year, but events were quickly curtailed by the onset of Covid-19. In-light of City Harvest’s immediate need to fundraise, QPR ambassador, Andy Sinton has recorded an appeal asking for public support to assist City Harvest to help feed London’s most vulnerable. Andy is an ex QPR player, also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Tottenham Hotspur and England.
Amongst the 300 charities City Harvest delivers free food to, Acton based food charity, City Harvest, provides fresh food to the ‘Phoenix Cook and Eat’ project run by QPR in the Community Trust, allowing children in years 9 and 10 to learn cooking skills and gain the confidence needed to cook healthy nutritious meals.
QPR Trust CEO Andy Evans said, “People always smile when they see a City Harvest van coming, what they do for the community is literally life changing. Too many kids in the community do not have access to fresh food, which is essential for their physical and mental health. It’s time for people to help City Harvest, they need funds to upscale and meet London’s sadly growing need. They provide food to food banks, community kitchens, and those providing care packages for those in isolation and missing free school meals.”
In the last 5 weeks during the COVID-19 emergency, City Harvest, London’s first last-mile food redistribution charity established in 2014, has rescued over 347.4 tonnes of food, delivered over 807,000 meals to charities across London who are preparing food parcels for vulnerable groups including NHS workers on the front line, and offset over 1,320 tonnes of greenhouse gases.
Now, more than ever, City Harvest is calling for extra support to help keep vans on the roads delivering food to those who need it most. Donations and more businesses providing surplus food are needed to combat this crisis. They are seeing charities evolve and adapt to meet the new needs and social boundaries set by covid-19, but is working closely to problem solve and ensure food reaches the right places.
City Harvest’s CEO, Laura Winningham, “Week five of covid-19 sees us planning for the unplannable. We rescue surplus food and deliver for free to those who cannot afford to eat – that number is rising. 1 in 6 children faced food poverty in the capital before covid-19 – we don’t yet know what the numbers will look like post-covid-19, but we know our services will be in even greater need.”
Vans are still rolling, the City Harvest team is still smiling, but they need funds and support to keep doing what they do so well.
