Dominic Cools-Lartigue, the founder of London’s leading street food market concept, Street Feast, has launched a new non-profit social initiative to bring food to those in need in the Capital.
The platform, called A Plate For London (APFL), is focused on helping three specific groups get access to groceries and hot meals: people who were in food poverty before the COVID-19 pandemic; children who rely on free school meals during term time; and those who have lost their jobs and now find themselves in food poverty, as a result of the enforced lockdown.
The APFL initiative works with food suppliers and independent restaurant brands, who have been forced to close their kitchens to the public during the lockdown, to put together food parcels and hot meals which are distributed to people that need them through local councils and charities.
APFL partnered with Tower Hamlets Council to feed the borough’s 15,000 school children that are eligible for free school meals during the Easter holidays and, last week, it set up five food hubs in the borough to feed more than 4,500 children; a further two hubs will be set up this week to feed a further 10,000 children, meeting the 15,000 meals target.
It has also partnered with Brixton-based charity Compliments of the House and Hospitality Action.
Cools-Lartigue said, “We’ve launched A Plate For London because so many people have been affected by the current situation, varying from those who were already in food poverty, to people who’ve lost their jobs and never thought they’d need to rely on a charity to feed their families.
“A city is nothing without its people and, right now, we need to make sure everybody in London is getting access to food, regardless of their circumstances. If you are a food supplier or have a kitchen that could be re-purposed to cook meals that we can distribute to those in need, then please do visit our website and get in touch. We would love to hear from you.”
A healthy, nutritious meal can be made for just £2, which includes the food and cooking staff costs, so a donation of £100 would feed a minimum of 50 people. As a non-profit initiative, all other staff are volunteers, including delivery drivers and marshals at food hubs, and every penny donated goes towards feeding Londoners in need.
To donate to APFL’s fundraising campaign, #DonateAPlate, please visit the website at https://aplateforlondon.org/donate/