Heating AND Eating This Winter
Donation protected
I’m raising money to help Essex food bank users (and maybe even those further afield) who are having to choose between ‘heating’ and ‘eating’ this winter, and I want to provide funding for slow cookers and home energy meter ‘top ups’ and ‘bill credits.’
After raising just under £4K for local foodbanks this winter, I was chatting to a few people about the sort of items that food banks need, and I was slightly alarmed to hear that there is a huge demand for ‘no cooking’ items. This could be because:
After raising just under £4K for local foodbanks this winter, I was chatting to a few people about the sort of items that food banks need, and I was slightly alarmed to hear that there is a huge demand for ‘no cooking’ items. This could be because:
- Food and fuel poverty has made them choose between paying for home energy to run kitchen appliances and obtaining the food itself.
- They are living in temporary accommodation with limited cooking facilities, maybe even only having access to a kettle.
I have already approached a number of home energy providers to see if they are willing to ‘match’ donations for home energy top-ups / credits in some way, and I am also pleased to say that Essex County Council are also supporting this appeal.
On top of discussing ways that they may be able to assist in terms of ‘hardship funding’ that is already in the process of being allocated for this Winter, a colleague at Essex County Council has agreed to support this work by making sure that any money raised is distributed effectively to food banks and other organisations in Essex, whether it is for the purchase of slow cookers, home energy top-ups / credits, or even general running costs to enable staff and volunteers to carry on reaching those who need help in the community.
Working in conjunction with the public health team, they are also going to work with me on a campaign to raise awareness of slow cooker recipes, and even the potential for ‘batch cooking’ to ensure that neighbours and vulnerable friends and family eat better this winter.
Thanks for your support!
Simon
AKA Man Behaving Dadly (My Facebook)
Organizer
Simon Harris
Organizer
