Help the Hungry: Reece James joins Felix Project to offer Christmas Eve support to the homeless

Fortnum and Mason offer up food for capital’s homeless

Reece James joined our charity partner’s founder Justin Byam Shaw in a Felix Project van to pick up luxury food and ingredients from Fortnum & Mason (Lisa Tse)

Footballer Reece James joined The Felix Project on Christmas Eve to deliver premium food to the homeless.

The Chelsea rightback joined our charity partner’s founder Justin Byam Shaw in a Felix Project van to pick up luxury food and ingredients from Fortnum & Mason to deliver to homeless shelters.

The iconic central London shop handed over warm soups, fresh vegetables, mince pies, sandwiches and ingredients for a whole Christmas dinner.

One doorwoman, dressed in the traditional Fortnum’s red suit, joked “these really ain’t light” as she helped to carry thousands of pounds worth of goods into the van.

James and Mr Byam Shaw then drove to two homeless shelters in central London to deliver the food for their Christmas dinners.

The first, Glass Door in Victoria, had its staff lined up outside to greet the delivery. Its founder said that all 44 beds in the hostel were filled on this especially difficult Christmas.

The Operations Manager at Glass Door said: “Support from The Felix Project this winter has been invaluable. They have been our main food supplier to our new hostel service during this period, providing over 6,000 meals to our guests, which covers around 70 per cent of the total food needs within this project.”

“When a person staying with Glass Door no longer has to think about where their next meal is coming from, they can focus on taking the practical steps needed to move beyond homelessness.”

One of the charity’s founders, Bruce Marquart, said: “We are fighting two wars at the same time. One against homelessness and one against this terrible virus.”

A guest staying at Glass Door said: “[The] food is amazing, tasty and fresh. I feel blessed having tonight’s meal in spite of the current pandemic restrictions. I am still able to enjoy this wonderful meal.”

The England footballer then drove on to Look Ahead hostel in Vauxhall, where he handed over the rest of the Christmas trimmings, cakes and fresh vegetables – gratefully accepted by the hostel’s night manager.

Justin Byam Shaw said: “Just four years ago, we spent Christmas Eve driving across London in our only Felix Project van. Now we have 27 vans and 1,000 volunteers driving across the whole of London redistributing surplus food to those who badly need it.

“I’m very grateful to spokespeople like Reece James who help us spread the word that so much still needs to be done and we need help to do it. “

Another organisation that has donated a huge amount of fresh meals to The Felix Project and The Independent’s Christmas appeal is  Lazeez Tapas.

The Mayfair Lebanese restaurant has supported the Felix Project for five years, and last night gave 500 meals of rice and vegetable curry to be distributed to the homeless, refugees and struggling families.

Its founder Emilio Malik  said: “We can all make a difference if we try and make a change by providing food to tackle the challenges we face in these difficult times.”

Reece James said: “It was great to spend Christmas Eve volunteering with The Felix Project and The Independent. This has been a hard year and at Christmas I want to use my platform to help those who have suffered most.”

“The smiles I saw on the faces of the charities’ clients at the fresh food from Fortnum’s made it all worth it.”