A Freezer called Keith
A Community Freezer called ‘Keith’ has been installed at the Hub in Minchinhampton. The freezer is full of delicious ready meals cooked specially by the chefs at The Long Table, a community based charity based down in Brimscombe.
Installing the freezer was the brainchild of Minchinhampton Community Group, a group of local volunteers looking for creative ways to support their community in any way they can, especially in these difficult times. Anyone is welcome to come and choose a meal or two and make a ‘pay as you feel’ contribution. The delicious meals vary week on week but examples of the fresh food are sausage casserole, chicken pie with mash top and pasta with tomato and cheese, as well as numerous vegetarian and vegan options. Kids Stuff, a local social enterprise group, is also supporting the initiative.
The Freezer is open from 9.30 to 10.30 on a Wednesday morning and the group are also providing ‘Keith on Wheels’ during lockdown, with a delivery service Mondays and Fridays for the Minchinhampton community.
Tara Patterson, a local resident said, ‘This is such a simple and such a brilliant idea. So many people are having a tough year and initiatives like this don’t just help on a practical level, they also help the community to pull together and support each other.’
Liz Bruce, one of the volunteers said, ‘We are so pleased that so many people are making use of Keith; people from all walks of life, young and old, taking advantage of some delicious food on offer and paying what they like.’
During lockdown, the Community Group’s volunteers looked to connect people and provide and distribute supplies of food and medical supplies where they were most needed. Plans going forward include a ‘Community Coffee Morning’ and a much needed parent and toddler group.
Viki Lee, Community Resilience Manager at Kids Stuff and Danny Brown, Associate Minister at Minchinhamptpon Baptist Church at Keith official opening.