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MK Melting pot awarded grant for Hot meal feeding programme

WHO ARE MK MELTING POT AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Mk Melting Pot aim to develop essential citizenship, social and work skills in unemployed and disadvantaged
people from deprived areas. Through their passion and creativity in the area of catering, the group is able
to help those they teach to return to work and to fully participate in the community. They work
collaboratively, providing advice, guidance and signposting when appropriate, to aid local regeneration and
social inclusion.


WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
On lockdown, what was a thriving community hub for cookery teaching and the preparation and collection
of hot meals, disappeared overnight. With local families relying on MK Melting Pot for meals 3 times a week
and with now no way of extending their service of signposting, the organisation needed to change and
change fast.


WHAT DIFFERENCE DID THE APPEAL AWARD MAKE?
As a direct result of the funding that MK Melting Pot received, their COVID19 Hot Meal Feeding programme
service was born. Via Parish Offices, a list of 60 high priority local families was compiled – with where
necessary details of health issues, allergies and religious dietary restrictions noted.
As a consequence, those households now receive hot meals for every member of the family three times a
week, with drivers waiting to ensure that the food and provisions are received safely. In addition to the hot
food, essential items parcels also supplied, tailored to the specific needs of the family – baby food and
nappies for example.

 

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE FUNDING?
Alongside the critical need to feed families, MK Melting pot have developed an additional ‘Befriending
Service’.
Volunteers are finding that as the weeks roll on, conversations with these families are not just based around
gratitude for the food, they’re deeper. At a time when so many are struggling with isolation and the
challenges that loneliness brings, Mk Melting Pot are taking the time to ask how those they help are feeling
and to build relationships.
For so many, kindness and human interaction are what they truly crave at this time. And for those in further
need, MK Melting Pot readily signpost to connect them to organisations that can help. In this way the Mk
Melting Pot volunteers really are a lifeline for many local families.
Here’s an example of the huge difference that MK Melting Pot are making…
Distressed neighbours alerted MK Melting Pot to a situation in which an elderly, diabetic man living alone
had neither food nor electricity. Volunteers visited with food, topped up his meter and are now visiting
regularly, providing food and supplies. They have since signposted him to AgeUK for further, much needed
care.
The last word in this story must come from Jade, founder of MK Melting Pot, in appreciation of her
volunteers:
“If the world becomes a better place tomorrow, it will happen because of volunteers like you. Your acts of
kindness will never go un-missed as they have impacted lives during this tough time tremendously...
Happiness truly comes from what you give and we are truly grateful to you.”

 

 

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