Horsham Freemasons restart hot meal deliveries for winter months

An initiative which saw hundreds of hot meals delievered to people in need across the district during the first lockdown is being restarted for the winter months.
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Funded by Horsham Freemasons and run in conjunction with the Horsham Matters foodbank, the scheme hopes to deliver meals fortnightly from November to the end of February to those who have been identified as vulnerable within the district.

It is estimated 300 people will receive a two-course hot meal every two weeks on a Sunday lunch time, which has been cooked by Debra Moore, the chef and proprietor of The Café in Nightingale Road, Horsham.

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Normandy Centre chairman, Peter Hansen, said: “The joint initiative with The Café and Horsham Matters earlier this year was very successful and we have had lots of delighted feedback from those people that we helped support.

Peter Hansen, chairman of the Normandy Masonic Centre in Horsham, at the Horsham Matters food bank SUS-201116-123851001Peter Hansen, chairman of the Normandy Masonic Centre in Horsham, at the Horsham Matters food bank SUS-201116-123851001
Peter Hansen, chairman of the Normandy Masonic Centre in Horsham, at the Horsham Matters food bank SUS-201116-123851001

“However, we are now at the start of the winter months when this service is going to be even more vital, so it’s time to work with our Masonic Lodges and partners, The Café and Horsham Matters, and get cooking and delivering again”.

The initiative builds on the success of the one run between May and July this year, when more than 350 meals were funded, cooked and delivered to those in the community who, for whatever reason, were unable to cook for themselves or who were struggling to be able to afford them.

The number of people seeking help from the Horsham Foodbank has shot up since the country locked down in March, and between then and now Horsham Foodbank has issued over 6,500 individual parcels.

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The number of parcels issued in the whole previous financial year was 2,900.

Paula Daly, community fundraiser at Horsham Matters, said: “The need is clear. This meal provision is going to have a big impact on children, families and individuals who are struggling with food poverty right now and we are very grateful to Horsham Freemasons for their practical support in reaching those in need in our community.”

The initiative was restarted on Sunday, November 1, at the end of the October half term week, which Paul says was the first time they have supplied half term family food packages to children and families who had been referred by local schools.

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