UP TO 200 freshly prepared meals make their way to people across Tameside every week thanks to a volunteer group that turns surplus food into support for those who need it most.
And the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mark Llewellin, visited Tameside Meals SEVA Group at Hyde Town Hall to see first-hand how volunteers are tackling food waste while supporting vulnerable people across the borough.
During the visit, a team of eight prepared around 150 pasta dishes, which will be distributed through local organisations, charities and community groups to reach homeless people, struggling families and others in need.
The initiative has been quietly serving the community since August 2021.
Organiser Kala Madviwala explained that the project originally began with funding aimed at supporting people living with long COVID.
“We actually started towards the end of COVID, thanks to some funding aimed at supporting people with long COVID,” she said.
“It was only supposed to last six months, but with a fantastic group of volunteers and careful budgeting, we stretched it to 18 months.”
Although the original funding came to an end, the project has continued to grow, expanding its reach to support a wide range of local charities and community organisations.
Each Tuesday, volunteers use surplus food from FareShare to make dishes based on the available ingredients. Working together, they prepare large batches of nutritious meals from scratch, ensuring good food is rescued rather than wasted.
Speaking during his visit, Mr Llewellin praised the dedication of the volunteers and the impact the project is having across Tameside.
“The joy of being High Sheriff is getting to meet people doing great things that no one would ever know about, and this is a perfect example,” he said.
“Who knew this was going on in the kitchen at Hyde Town Hall? These volunteers are taking food that would otherwise go to waste and turning it into delicious meals that people genuinely look forward to receiving.
“They’re supporting homeless people here in Tameside, while charities and churches are also using the meals. They’ve been doing this for years and I bet most people in Tameside don’t even know about it.
“It ticks so many boxes. People are learning new skills, making friends and interacting with others, while at the same time producing something that benefits the wider community. I think it’s absolutely fantastic.”
The project continues to rely on the commitment of its volunteers, who meet every week with a shared aim of reducing food waste and ensuring more people across Tameside have access to a warm, nutritious meal.
Tameside Meals SEVA Group can be found on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/tmsevagroup.