The founder of Inverness charitable project Food for Families has welcomed a a record 3,508 meals cooked and delivered this winter – but has expressed disappointment that the demand locally is so strong.
Businessman David Sutherland said:”It’s truly tragic that so many families and individuals find themselves in circumstances where they are short of a hot meal and where we’ve been able to help with mince and tatties.
“I’d like to see us reach the stage where Food for Families isn’t required so much – but the evidence is that won’t be for a good while yet.
“Our network of volunteers have been absolutely magnificent in producing this great effort to help those who need assistance, mainly in the Inverness area but also in Nairn and Easter Ross.”
He revealed:”Our teams have cooked and distributed 12, 625 meals since we started up from scratch five years ago. They deserve enormous credit – but I hope the assistance needed won’t require an even bigger response next winter.”
Mr Sutherland and his wife Anne have donated 2000 lbs of mince each year in their midwinter campaigns, with the Highland Homeless Trust liaising with the volunteers.
Inmates working in the kitchen at Inverness Prison produced the largest single input, cooking 885 meals.
Local primary schools also played their part with Merkinch primary providing 175 meals, St Josephs 162 meals and Dalneigh 100 meals.
Ness Bank, with 438 meals, topped the excellent response from local churches while Inverness Mosque contributed 280 Indian meals.
The vegetables for the meals were donated by Catriona Cameron, owner of the Mustard Seed and Kitchen restaurants in Inverness city centre, and Willamsons fruit and veg suppliers.
Alex Gilchrist, manager of the Highland Homeless Trust, said:”This record outcome reflects fantastic work by so many.
“This time we worked more closely than ever with NHS social work teams and the Families and Schools teams to help ensure that the distribution of meals has been widespread and that they’ve gone to families in most need.”