Last month, Haggerston Mutual Aid approached our catering team and other local organisations to provide immediate short-term support for their food distribution service. Our Catering team very quickly stepped in by providing 150 meals a day for five days, all of which were distributed daily to households, charities and homeless people living in the local community.
James Emtage, Coordinator of Haggerston Mutual Aid said: "We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support Queen Mary has given to us. Their donations have made a big difference to our most vulnerable residents, supplying hot food at a time when it's most needed."
Queen Mary has also been donating food to Kendon House Sheltered Scheme, a charity providing sheltered accommodation for the elderly in Stratford.
Beverley Charters, Warden at Kendon House said: "We have greatly enjoyed liaising with the friendly team in The Curve restaurant at Queen Mary. These lunches, during a very difficult time for some of our elderly residents, ensure that they receive nutritious hot food three times a week, and we are all delighted. You really have made a difference, and also ensured that the residents know they are cared for and can stay home and stay safe."
Queen Mary has previously worked with Haggerston Mutual Aid by donating food in April over the Easter holiday, and collaborated with Tower Hamlets Council to distribute meals to those in need in our local community as part of the A Plate for London initiative . Queen Mary alumni have also been championing these worthy causes, with a recent Queen Mary graduate launching One Million Meals, providing free meals to key workers on the front line.
Haggerston Mutual Aid is a WhatsApp-run community group of over 500 volunteers who are helping the immediate needs of vulnerable people in Haggerston, and across Hackney more widely. The services they offer depend on people's needs; ranging from distributing daily hot meals for those struggling for food, to prescription pick-ups and errands for anyone unable to leave the house.
Thank you to our catering team for their ongoing support for vulnerable families in the Tower Hamlets community during the current pandemic.
