NEWS
Love Marlborough Kids Meals was created to support struggling families in Marlborough, and its surrounding villages, by Kymee Cleasby in the summer of 2020. She knew there were local families in crisis, hidden in plain sight, who needed help and whose lives had been fundamentally changed by the pandemic. Two and a half years on the economic crisis, rising fuel bills and food costs, all mean that the pressure on vulnerable families continues.
As a charity we have a simple guiding principal: ‘no fuss – no forms –no referrals … just meals for families who need them,’ and the service provided has developed in step with the needs of those families. We now provide every new family with a slow cooker, a simple and cheap means of preparing meals; mid-week we deliver a ‘recipe-box’ of ingredients for a slow-cooked supper; and on a Friday afternoon, our teams cook roast chicken dinners in the kitchens at Sue Brady Catering, which are then delivered take-away style, enabling the whole family to sit together for a hot meal; and we always ensure there is enough for left-over sandwiches the next day.
The network behind this charity is complex and nourishing. Under the direction of Cath Williams, we have a solid base of volunteers who shop, cook, deliver, fundraise and work in family liaison and administrative roles; we are a key contributor to the supportive network of local charities that work in our community to relieve the pressure of those in need; and we are in partnership with those individuals, organisations and establishments who generously make financial donations and ensure we can continue to provide meals for families who turn to us for help and who trust the integrity and anonymity of the service.
We are hugely grateful to the Leadership Team at Quarmans, who have been fundamental supporters in that network. The recent donation of £1500 has been crucial to our plans in Winter 2022; as Christmas approaches, the demand on the services we provide has increased exponentially, and Quarmans’ support has allowed us to make key purchases, including a professional oven, that ensure we work productively and efficiently for all the stakeholders involved. We of course, hope for a time when there are no families who require our support, but in the meanwhile donations such as this ensure that we can continue to deliver the support our families are so very grateful for.
Olwynne Goodrich
Discover more about Love Marlborough Kids Meals here
