West Lothian social enterprise, The Larder has announced its Christmas Campaign helped to cook and deliver 450, three-course, Christmas dinners to people experiencing food insecurity.
With support from generous donors and corporate partners, they were able to support 496 people.
The Larder is a social enterprise operating across West Lothian, offering bespoke needs-led training opportunities for young people who have not had a fair start in life; all whilst utilising food as a tool for learning.
They also support adults and families who are experiencing food insecurity, and during Covid-19, and have distributed over 122,000 meals to those most in need.
Currently, in West Lothian, 23 per cent of people are living below the poverty line. That’s 42,000 people who are facing various levels of food insecurity. Since May 2020, the 39 partnership organisations that create the West Lothian
Food Network have provided food support for approximately 4,000 people per week.
The Larder’s food insecurity project, Catalyst Kitchen, directly contributes to reducing these levels of insecurity in West Lothian. This Christmas, The Larder worked with their community, supporters and partners to raise £3,519, feeding 496 people.
Alongside this, each individual either received a shortbread box or selection box in a festive
bag, gifted from their corporate partners, Compass and Tilbury Douglas.
As well as this incredible donation campaign, The Larder also ran a ‘Big Pyjama Appeal’, which ensured that any beneficiary whose children would benefit from a new cosy pair of pyjamas for Christmas Eve, didn’t go without.
This campaign saw 46 generous people donate 80 pyjama sets for their beneficiaries.
Angela Moohan, CEO, The Larder, said: “There is enough wealth in the world to feed everyone. Whilst we wait on Governments to take the steps needed to end poverty we alleviate hunger with dignity where we can. This Christmas many people are going to be without food, we, at The Larder are doing everything we can to support those in need”.
David Hay, Managing Director, Compass Scotland, said: “We are delighted to support The Larder with their Christmas Appeal this year, providing help to those in need over the festive period.
The amazing work they do, throughout the year in the community, to help individuals reach their potential resonates with our own values at Compass Scotland.”
To find out more about The Larder’s services, you can head to their social media pages @LarderTraining or their website www.thelarder.org.
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