Maidenhead Rotary Club is backing a scheme from one of its members to help feed struggling families over the half-term holiday.
 Rotarian Harry Patel, who runs Gourmet Chicken. (photo: courtesy Maidenhead Advertiser)  President Mary Spinks (right) with Lee Wright and Jo Sharp from the Maiden's Head.  Steve Boucher, landlord of 15 Queen Street, and president Mary with some of the lunches for struggling families. | Rotarian Harry Patel, who runs Gourmet Chicken based at the Maiden’s Head in Maidenhead High Street, the pub’s managers Lee Wright and Jo Sharp, and Steve Boucher, landlord of the nearby 15 Queen Street pub, teamed up after they heard children would go hungry during the school break. Together they are providing cooked lunches and evening meals every day during half-term week for 15 families identified by Maidenhead Foodshare. In addition they are donating food parcels containing hundreds of meals to be distributed by the local charity. Maidenhead Rotary Club has donated £250 towards the costs of the project. Harry said: “By providing lunches, dinners and food parcels we are covering three bases, not just one. It’s not just about feeding the kids, parents need to eat properly too. I’m really grateful to the Rotary Club for supporting the scheme and enabling us to reach more people. Being in Rotary empowers you to get more value from what you do.” Club president Mary Spinks said: “We were delighted to get behind such an initiative involving one of our own Rotarians that directly helps some of the most vulnerable people in our community at such a difficult time. “The businesses involved have all been affected by the Covid-19 lockdown themselves - yet are still prepared to step up to help those in need. That’s real community spirit in action.” Lee Wright, manager of the Maidens Head, added: “We’ve got a little girl and the thought of children like her going hungry was terrible. I don’t think people realise the scale of the problem - some of the families we are helping are unable even to cook. What we are doing is not going to change the world but we can still make a difference.” |