lifestyle

Leeds Soup Kitchen Gets A Welcome Donation

The Yorkshire division of national homebuilder, Bellway Homes has served up a much-needed donation to a soup kitchen in Leeds – a new dual fuel oven.

Bellway serves up a donation – (right to left) Emma Fitton-Cook of Bellway Homes and Neruka White of Neruka’s Soul Food Soup Kitchen

Neruka’s Soul Food Soup Kitchen operates out of the Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic Church in Harehills and provides food parcels and hot meals for up to 200 families a week. Earlier in the year the oven the charity had used since it was formed in 2009 (and the church had been using for nearly 10 years before that) broke, meaning Neruka and her team of volunteers have only been able to provide cold meals for the last couple of months.

Helping out – Bellway’s Emma-Fitton Cook (right) helps Neruka White of Neruka’s Soul Food Soup Kitchen pack food parcels in Leeds

Emma Fitton-Cook, Bellway’s Yorkshire sales manager, said:
“Neruka, her volunteers and all those who donate food to the charity literally put food on the plates of families and individuals in Leeds who otherwise would go without. We’re delighted to be able to help them in our own small way.”

The oven was donated from Bellway’s Spofforth Park development in Wetherby, where it had been on display in a show home but wasn’t required by the eventual buyers of the property.

Neruka White said:
“The timing of the donation from Bellway is perfect. We’d been struggling by without an oven for the last couple of months and were on the verge of having to dig into charity funds to buy a new one when the call came. I can’t wait to get back to cooking at the kitchen and putting hot food back on Neruka’s Soul Food Soup Kitchen’s menu.”

“Sadly, the last year has seen those relying on the food parcels and hot meals provided by Neruka’s grow significantly – and they aren’t the only charity in Leeds helping those in difficulty,” added Emma. “Leeds Food Aid Network has a full list of charities providing food drop-in services for those who need to access them or would like to help.”

Leeds Food Aid Network – www.leedsfoodaidnetwork.co.uk/food-drop-ins/.

Neruka’s Soul Food Soup Kitchen is open from 12-2pm every Wednesday and 10am-12noon ever Friday. Visit http://nerukassoupkitchen.simplesite.com/ or find them on Facebook to find out more.

For further information on Spofforth Park go to www.bellway.co.uk