A Perth -based social enterprise that has delivered more than 5000 meals to struggling residents says it has no plans to stop.
At the start of lockdown, Giraffe started preparing fresh meals for people living in areas like Tulloch and Letham.
Using surplus food from businesses which were initially forced to shut such as Crieff Hydro, volunteers have been busy keeping people fed over the past five months.
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And on Tuesday this week, the group sent out its 5000th meal since the initiative started.
But CEO Gareth Ruddock says they will not be stopping even though the region has emerged from lockdown.
He expects many people to continue to struggle as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bite and furlough comes to an end.
Speaking to the Perthshire Advertiser, he said: “We realise the need is not going anywhere fast.
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“It will only increase with people losing jobs and the likes of the hospitality industry shrinking.
“We’ve no plans to stop. I can see this going on for the next 12 months.”
Giraffe has worked with groups like TullochNET, Letham4All and Caledonian Housing Association among others to identify people who may benefit from a free meal.
And he reckons the meals have given people something a little different.
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“All our staff were on furlough but we had volunteers who said we couldn’t waste the food we had been given,” he explained.
“During lockdown it was about people who could not get out and we could drop them at people’s doors.
“It’s continued because there is such a need for it.
“There are lots of people who are maybe getting food packages, but these tend to be core ingredients like pasta or rice, so this gave them something fresh as well.
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“Maybe people don’t have the experience or even the facilities to prepare meals, and this gave them a healthy meat and two veg.
“It was a wee break from the norm.”
With restrictions continuing to ease, Giraffe will start to welcome back its trainees, many of whom have learning difficulties or mental health issues.
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There are no plans to reopen the cafe at the moment, but there is a takeaway service where people wanting to support those in need can buy them a meal and help support Giraffe volunteers in preparing the free meals.
Gareth said: “What’s a really beautiful part of this is that, when the trainees come back, they will be making these meals as well, so it’s really the community helping the community.
“There are no plans to reopen the cafe because, with social distancing, it would be difficult for our trainees to cope but we are open for the free meals and for takeaways.”
■Giraffe is based at 51-53 South Street in Perth. Go to https://www.giraffe-trading.co.uk/ for more information.
