Help the Hungry: Volunteers cook for neighbours struggling without food during crisis

‘I can’t bear the thought of anyone going hungry,’ says volunteer cook, organiser and delivery driver Katie-Louise Barber

Katie-Louise Barber (left) and a fellow volunteer deliver food to neighbours in need (Nigel Howard)

Selfless volunteers have given over their homes to a huge emergency food drive during the coronavirus crisis, cooking and packing up vital supplies for neighbours struggling get enough to eat.

Using food from The Felix Project –​ The Independent’s Help The Hungry campaign partner – residents are making meals for vulnerable people in their community who can’t get out for health reasons or can’t afford shopping because of job losses or cuts in income.

Katie-Louise Barber initially used half a dozen crates of fresh produce from the food surplus charity to cook around 750 meals for NHS staff at Barnet Hospital – including lasagnes, curries and macaroni cheese.

From her home in High Barnet, the 27-year-old is now using supplies from both The Felix Project and local restaurants to deliver around 250 food parcels and freshly cooked meals each week to everyone in her community asking for help.

“It’s like running a food bank from a two-bedroom flat, with all this stuff coming in and going out so quickly,” she said. “I’m doing it all via a Facebook page and WhatsApp. It’s getting busier and busier because so many people need support.”

Ms Barber added: “I can’t bear the thought of anyone going hungry. It’s just horrible to think of it in this day and age. I’ve had help from some brilliant volunteers too. I’ve got three young girls at home and I hope they’re learning something about giving back to the community from all this.

“I think The Felix Project is doing fantastic work right now. Stopping food going to waste is such a brilliant thing.”

Tim Young decided last month to start volunteering with Bread n Butter: a social enterprise in Barnet getting up to 600 cooked meals and food parcels out each day, thanks to around 80 crates of produce supplied weekly by The Felix Project.

The 55-year-old – who is still recovering from a heart operation he had earlier this year – has been cooking up to 150 meals a week from his own kitchen.

“I’m relatively lucky, I’ve got quite a big kitchen and lots of pots and pans – so I wanted to do what I could. It’s hard to see how much people are struggling at the moment, because the level of need seems to be going up and up. But it’s a pretty good feeling being able to help others out.”

Tim Young cooking meals from his home in Barnet (BreadnButter)

Prior to the pandemic, Bread n Butter was teaching Londoners cookery skills. The social enterprise adapted to the crisis by delivering free meals to vulnerable people’s doors and NHS hospitals.

“I thought they were doing such important work, so I was delighted to lend a hand and do some of the cooking,” said Mr Young. “The Felix Project is doing amazing work too and all the food they’re supplying is fantastic. I’m so glad it isn’t going to waste. It’s going to the people who need it most.”

The Felix Project has quadrupled its deliveries since the beginning of the lockdown to 40 tons a day, and supplies more than 100 charities, school groups, hostels and community hubs across London.

The Independent is encouraging readers to help groups across the UK that are trying to feed the hungry during the crisis – find out how you can help here. Follow this link to donate to our campaign in London in partnership with the Evening Standard.