Hey everyone!

It's been a pretty busy few months getting cooking spaces going, adapting from moving meals to moving surplus and then meals, and getting various amazing people linked in and trained to do kitchen shifts and Feed the Forest!

We estimate that, between the beginning of the project with Higham Hill Muslim Community trust and the drawing to a close with GMGG Food Support, we've delivered around 16,000 meals to those in the Borough who've needed them, and we know we've barely scratched the surface given the statistics on food poverty in the Borough (even before COVID hit).

Since we started thinking about making the project more sustainable, we've had a number of community kitchen spaces spring up, supported by local organisations like The Hornbeam Centre (offering surplus, meals, and support); Cornerstone Church, St Andrews Church, Kukoolala Community Cafe, Canon's Farm Kitchen and Woodford Rugby Club (offering space, equipment and support); Waltham Forest Community Hub (paying for food hygiene training for kitchen volunteers and generally being wonderfully supportive); PL84U (for support, and treats for meals recipients); Higham Hill Muslim Community Trust (for their continued support and encouragement); WFIA (for offering Ghousia Grove Hall as well as patience and support throughout); and to GMGG for all of the meals, inspiration, support, and hope!

We're now turning surplus into hundreds of meals per week, and once we have more concrete spaces and administrative processes established, will be able to better support other cafes and kitchens too!

With this support, after learning of the gradual stopping of the GGMG food project, we've managed to make and distribute over 2000 meals, and are hoping that our meals-per-week number will only grow as we expand and get into a bigger rhythm, make more partnerships, and team up with others already doing phenomenal work supporting local residents.

With the prospect of a second wave on the horizon, and the economic impacts of the current crisis barely beginning to bite, we know that there will be a high demand for support across the Borough, and we're confident that we'll be able to continue getting food to those who need it.

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who's been involved so far- whether through financial contributions, sharing our stories, delivering meals, or supported us in any way, you’ve helped fill bellies and warm souls! We're still needing cooks, drivers, spaces, cargo bikes, willpower and good humour, so if you feel you have any or all of the above to offer, please get in touch at [email protected]!

From all of us at Food For The Forest

x