Published April 24th, 2020
A new collaboration between much-loved Cornish caterer Fee’s Food and chef Tim Spedding is seeing the redeployment of resources and skills to provide food for people who need it the most.
Like many small businesses, Fee Turner, owner of Fee’s Food, and Tim Spedding found themselves with little work during the coronavirus crisis. So instead, they are using their time and resources in a positive way, creating Cornwall Community Kitchen.
“This is clearly a difficult time for everyone, but it is especially trying for those most at risk of food poverty. Food banks and charities in Cornwall are seeing unprecedented demand, so we started Cornwall Community Kitchen to help in any way we can”, said Fee Turner.
Cornwall Community Kitchen has been donating meals, prepared by the team at Fee’s Food and local volunteers, to Wadebridge and Bude food banks, and DISC Newquay – a charity which supports homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
“We couldn’t produce the number of meals we’re cooking without help from our lovely friends. We have local volunteers assisting with everything, be that peeling bags of potatoes or helping to pack meals, and also delivering food to the charities so that they can distribute to those most in need. It’s a real team effort by the community”, continued Fee.
Cornwall Community Kitchen meals are only prepared on weekends, with the Fee’s Food kitchen operating as normally as it can during the week. On average, 630 meals have been prepared each weekend for the the last three weeks.
As well as providing meals, Cornwall Community Kitchen aims to support small suppliers, farmers, and fishermen, many of which saw their primary income disappear overnight when hotels and restaurants closed.
The initiative, which is financed by fundraising, has captured the imagination of local businesses, including Will Herrmann of Porthilly Spirit Distillery and Porthilly Spirit Festival.
“We have been inspired by what our friends Tim and Fee are doing with Cornwall Community Kitchen – in this strange and uncertain time, stories of businesses and communities pulling together like this add a little warmth and hope”, said Will.
“We’re so pleased to be helping out with the fundraising effort. As well as an initial cash contribution, we are donating £2 from every bottle sold through porthillyspiritdistillery.com, and inviting our customers to add their own donation to purchases, if they wish to – and we’ll match all the money raised.”
Additionally, those who bought tickets for Porthilly Spirit Festival, which has been cancelled due to COVID-19, have the option to donate some or all of their ticket refund to Cornwall Community Kitchen. The festival will then match any amount raised.
Tim Spedding added: “All money generated through our fundraising efforts will be used solely for purchasing ingredients and delivering food to those most in need. On average, the raw materials which go into a meal for two cost £2.60 – so donations really can go a long way.”
For more information, visit www.porthillyspiritdistillery.com/cornwall-community-kitchen, or www.feesfood.co.uk/pages/covid-19.
