Two trolley loads of store cupboard essentials including pies, juice cordial, washing up liquid, spam and tinned vegetables were amongst the long shelf life items donated to Shekinah which relies on food collected by the local community, schools, churches and individuals to feed the City’s hungry at its drop in centre on Bath Street.

Together with his team of volunteers and kitchen staff, Peter will use the trolley loads of gifts, which are continually topped up by supporters throughout the year and boosted heavily at Harvest time, to cook over 60 three course meals every lunch time for Plymouth’s homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged.  With meals heavily subsidised for the needy, the community’s support enables Shekinah to whip up a good quality, healthy starter, main and dessert for just £1 to those who can afford it and offer it free for those who can’t.

“In many cases, we provide the only meal that people will eat during their whole day,” says Wendy, Shekinah’s drop in centre manager. “If it wasn’t for the generosity of businesses like the Co-operative and the general public we would never be able to sustain the provision of a three course meal for a pound,” she adds.

“At this time of severe economic hardship, we’re extremely grateful to businesses like the Co-operative who regularly donate to our cause,” says John Hamblin, chief executive, Shekinah Mission.  “We hope we can build upon these positive relationships, forge many more new ones in the year to come and continue to keep the local community engaged in the varied work we do,” he adds.

Kay McCullough, Chair of The Co-operative’s South Devon Area Committee, said: “The Shekinah Mission makes a huge difference to the lives of vulnerable people in our communities, and we were delighted to be able to support their work with a donation of products from our Wolseley Road store.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about Shekinah can log onto www.shekinahmission.co.uk. If anyone would like to donate food items, they can contact Shekinah’s drop in centre on Bath Street on 01752 203480.

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