We launch this project in 2014 alongside InTouch Foundation and we have been regularly serving food in Keighley every Wednesday night in the local town. We have served food through the four different seasons and various different weathers (sun, rain, snow, sleet etc). One of the most appealing aspects of this sort of charitable initiative is the fact that it is so hands on. Instead of donating to a charity where the recipients are anonymous, we actually meet and talk to our recipients. We hand out the food ourselves and see it being eaten so there’s no element of uncertainty as to where the donations are going. Almost as important as the food itself is the simple act of communication with the homeless. So many of them have said that, while the food and drink is really important to them (many survive from day to day predominantly on what the various soup kitchens provide), the other element they like is just the interaction with the volunteers. We aim to develop this service further from our new site to enable us to support the people of Keighley.
Due to lockdown we were able to support our local NHS service and also set up a food bank to support local families with food parcels and support during this difficult period. A number of families were supported by working with a range of different people from various backgrounds.
We were able to work alongside the local council and other key stakeholders and deliver much-needed aid to Muslims and Non-Muslims.
As an organisation we went to deliver PPE equipment to the local hospitals during their time of need. We alongside another group were able to give Viziers, masks, overalls and other key items to doctors, nurses to use during the pandemic.
