Islamic Relief UK supported The Felix Project with its unique kitchen which collects good surplus food to cook nearly 4,000 meals and deliver it to some of the most vulnerable families.
This is part of a wider initiative led by Islamic Relief UK involving 26 partners across the country to deliver food packs, Qurbani meat and Eid gifts to coincide with Eid al-Adha.
The donated meat was used in a number of ways, some distributed straight away to the community groups and some frozen to ensure a supply of halal meat throughout the year.
Some of the meat went to Felix’s Kitchen, where it was used to create culturally appropriate meals for families across the capital.
The Kitchen, which opened in July 2021, has been cooking and delivering culturally sensitive meals to the ethnically diverse community in East London.
Local home cooks and guest chefs have visited the site to teach Felix’s professionally trained chefs authentic and culturally familiar dishes that can be stored for two to three days and then heated.
On average the kitchen can deliver 3,500 meals a day and around 24,000 meals a week.
The Felix Project is a lifeline for many families and collects surplus food from supermarkets, wholesalers, farms, restaurants and delis that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste. The surplus includes fresh fruit, vegetables, diary, bread, ready meals, baked goods, salads, meat and fish.
Many people have been hit hard by the cost of living crisis, especially low-income families, those suffering from domestic abuse, people who are homeless, asylum seekers and refugees.
Charlotte Hill, CEO of The Felix Project said: “Sadly with the cost of living so high we know many people are struggling, their incomes do not cover their outgoings and it is often food budgets that are the only place people can cut back. We have seen demand for our support soar, as more and more people turn to charities to help them bridge the gap and put food on the table.
“We desperately need more food to help organisations support those experiencing food insecurity, that is why donations like this are so vital. We are hugely grateful to Islamic Relief for this incredible gift, there is a huge demand among our community organisations for halal meat and we will be able to use the donation throughout the year to ensure we can meet the cultural needs of so many of the beneficiaries.”
Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK said: “On the blessed days of the Islamic festival of Eid-al-Adha, we are proud to be working with The Felix Project, who will be helping families struggling to feed themselves. The cost-of-living crisis in the UK is continuing to wreak havoc on families as many go hungry and are unable to pay their bills. This should simply not be the case in the UK.
“Islamic Relief UK is calling on the UK government to urgently work at every level to strengthen the social security system and ensure that benefit payments are, at least, enough for people to afford essential household goods and adequately feed themselves.”
