A COVENTRY charity which helps migrants and the unemployed find jobs in the area says serving hot food can be invaluable in guiding vulnerable people into work.
Run by St Francis of Assisi Church, the food project supports around 70 people every day in an area of high unemployment.
And as migration increases, the number of people benefiting from the charity’s work is increasing.
Reverend Liz Jackson believes offering food to the group’s service users helps them to engage with people in need – a starting point from where the church can begin to support them into employment.
Volunteers at the church has previously been buying food with money from their own pockets.
This was before they signed up to be part of Tesco and FareShare’s Community Food Connection in December.
Supporting charities and community groups, Tesco store teams alert charities and community groups when unsold food items become available at the end of each day.
Reverend Jackson said: “Being able to serve meals to the people we help makes such a difference.
“It creates a welcoming atmosphere, and sets our service users at ease.
“Once we have engaged with these vulnerable people over a meal, we are able to start to support them and help to turn their lives around.
“Demand is increasing all the time due to a rise in Asylum seekers in the area and benefit sanctions taking their toll on local people.”
Tesco’s supplying of fruit, vegetables, bakery products, meat and cheese allow volunteers to serve up five lunch sittings and three breakfasts a week.
Meals include scrambled eggs on toast, homemade soup, vegetable casserole, ratatouille, and jacket potatoes.
Reverend Jackson added: “Hundreds of new people have come through our doors since September.
“Many of the people we help are already at crisis point, while we work hard to stop the situation getting so bad for others.
“They are often facing challenges such as long-term unemployment, a lack of English, skills, mental health problems, homelessness and malnutrition.”
Visit www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-foodcloud for further information about Tesco’s FareShare project.
