One Community Food Share helps others in the community

The Women of Whitworth Project and Basil’s Bar and Grill were working hard to ensure that no child went hungry during the half term break

Over the last week, both the Women of Whitworth Project and Basil’s Bar and Grill have worked hard to ensure no local child went hungry over the half-term break.

Kimberley Ashworth, of the Women of Whitworth Project, said: “I have young children, and the thought of other children going hungry really upset me. I knew how I wanted to spend my week off work, so juggling caring commitments, I set into action, contacting local businesses, residents and schools to find out what we could do as a community.”

Danni Bunnell, who owns Basil’s, added: “I was really keen to get involved and instantly became the main base for the week, ensuring that no child went hungry.”

Both Kimberley and Danni began receiving crisis calls on 25 October from families who hadn’t eaten a hot meal in weeks for a variety of reasons from ill health to redundancy to furlough.

They arranged for the restaurant to prepare meals and a PPE-clad Kimberley delivered to each household. On the same day, the volunteers met to discuss how they could help with the food share. All of the overnight planning paid off as over 800 meal bags and food boxes were supplied to children and families in crisis over five days.

Kimberley added: “One of the families hadn’t been able to open their front door for weeks as they couldn’t afford to get the repairs sorted, but I managed to arrange a local tradesman to sort their problem. We had children cheering at a meal, families crying because they were so thankful of a meal.”

Danni and Kimberley would like to thank all volunteers involved, plus Marilyn Jones and all those from The Soup Kitchen in Rochdale, Naomi Kenyon of the Whitworth Food Box Scheme, Basil’s Bar and Grill, Emma Brownlie of Lords Caterers, Ann Greenwood and Pavillion Indian Restaurant for supplying evening meals, World Class Wins, A Mellor Plumbing and Heating Services Ltd, Joshua Law Butchers and Bakers, Iceland Rochdale, Chalkers, The Window and Door Outlet, Alfie’s Wardrobe, The Butterfly Room, Cowm Leisure, BC Bakes, Nibbles Café, Ashoka, Tesco Express in Whitworth, Shawclough Stores, The Riverside and to all of those in the community that have sent in cash donations.

A final thank you also goes to Whitworth Town Council and Rossendale Borough Council for their support.

Over the next few weeks, plans will be put into place for Christmas meal packs for families.

If you wish to find out more, please contact: thewowproject2018@gmail.com