VOLUNTEERS at Westbourne Rotary Club have provided 12,000 meals to those in need throughout the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area during the last 12 months of the pandemic.

Now the Club are looking to the future and are calling on the community to help feed another 12,000 people.

From the beginning of the first lockdown, Westbourne Rotary Club has gone from a small cooking operation in a club members kitchen to providing more than 60 two-course meals a day from a commercial kitchen, all being distributed free of charge.

Rotarian and Project Co-ordinator Greg Singleton said: “Despite these numbers being nothing short of a miracle, making it happen has not been easy, and would not have been possible without the infinite love, support and solidarity from our community since day one.

“But we are only just warming up.

“We want to raise £25,000 to help us on our journey to achieving another 12,000 meals, supporting local people who have fallen on hard times.”

From the cooking team to the project managers, all the way to the volunteer drivers, along with key operating costs like premises and making up the shortfall on the much-needed ingredients to make the meals, there are a lot of things that need to come together to make the magic at Westbourne Rotary's Feed a Family for a Fiver Project come to life.

One pound from every donation will go on to make one meal. Those look to donate can give a gift of £20 to feed 20 people or donate £50 will feed 10 families.

Bournemouth Echo: Food prepared by volunteers at Westbourne Rotary Club ready to go out to people in need

The club is therefore asking people to make a donation via their website so they can continue to provide a healthy and nutritious home-cooked two-course dinner for families and vulnerable single people.

A chance for the community to come together and show the recipients that someone cares in this difficult time.

Rotarian and volunteer Richard Burnett said: “It couldn’t be easier for the community to support this amazing project.

“You donate £5 to feed a family of five.

“We buy the ingredients and cook a healthy traditional meal to individuals and families in crisis, delivered by our dedicated team of volunteers.”

To make a donation, visit www.westbournerotary.org.uk/feed-a-family.