Can you Help us Feed the Hungry in Hull?
EMS, a charitable organisation in Hull, has been feeding 1200 people a week since 2018, and now faces closure for this project if further funding cannot be found in the next few weeks.
River City Church in Hull has been a community partner with EMS for the last 4 years. The church buys ready-made, healthy, homecooked meals from EMS and supplies them to those in most need in the community. Their regular warm space and foodbank sessions bring them into contact with hundreds of people, hit hardest by the cost of living crisis, which is only deepening.
The meals supplied by EMS have been an essential lifeline to many people in the area of East Hull, where the church is working. It has provided 200 meals a week for service uses in the last year alone. EMS have cooked almost 60,000 meals, feeding over 230,000 people since opening and distribute them to ten partner organisations - called ‘Community Fridges’ - across the city. The charity, based in East Hull, works with volunteers training them in food preparation, and connects with local allotments and larger businesses to acquire surplus food that can be used to help those finding it tough to make ends meet.
Andy Rees project coordinator at EMS said “The project has been running for 7 years and we are deeply upset to see it finish. Two of our chefs have lost their jobs and we know that there is still a great demand for meals across the city. We are saddened about the impact that this will have on people’s lives.”
By partnering with EMS River City Church has been able to host cooking courses for those on a budget who want help learning to cook healthy meals for themselves.
One gentleman who came regularly to the church’s drop-in sessions was able to access the cooking course after sadly losing his wife. His wife had done all their cooking and now this gentleman was left without the skills or knowledge to look after his health. After attending the course he was able to gain the confidence he needed to begin cooking for himself and now regularly brings in homemade cakes and treats for the volunteers at the church to enjoy.
Those on a tight budget or those who are not able to manage their money find it particularly difficult to plan meals and find this service a lifeline. River City regularly supplies food to pensioners and singles who struggle to cook a healthy meal or afford healthy options. EMS meals ensured these individuals were getting at least one or more balanced healthy meals a week.
Jo Maude, the Community Outreach worker for River City commented:
“For the last 4 years we have been in partnership with EMS, it has been such a joy to work with Andy, their chef and project manager. He has such a generous heart and wants to be able to help feed those that are struggling. Not only has he cooked hundreds of meals for us to give out but has run cooking lessons to help teach people to cook for themselves on a budget. His service will be irreplaceable to us as his connection with suppliers is indispensable. We are not sure how we will meet the needs in the community going forward.”
Due to lack of funding, EMS will have to close its food production and River City Church, along with the other organisations in the city that EMS supplies, will no longer be able to feed the hungry in Hull. They have enough meals to last them until April 3rd and after this time they will have to turn people away if they need help with meals.
URGENT APPEAL: River City Church is appealing to any local agencies, funding sources or governmental support that might be able to find funding to help this essential service stay open. Please contact hello@rivercityhull.co.uk if you can help or visit their GoFundMe page:
