Not everyone in Hammersmith & Fulham can afford to cook a hearty Christmas meal this festive season. Now, a fundraising drive has been launched to make it a merry time for all.
The new appeal is raising money for Rose Vouchers to be given out to families on low incomes via H&F Council’s children’s centres.
Each voucher is worth £3 in fruit and veg per child per week (double if the child is under a year old), with the produce available from North End Road Market in Fulham, and Shepherds Bush Market, close to the tube station.
“These vouchers are vital to help ease some of the pressure on our families in need,” said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader of H&F Council.
Help us beat food poverty
Organised by the Alexandra Rose Charity, which works to help needy families maintain a healthy diet and avoid food poverty, the project match-funds supporters’ donations.
The Big Give Christmas Challenge runs until Tuesday 10 December, with every donation matched to a total of £10,000.
Since its launch in H&F in 2017, the fruit and veg project has helped 400 families with young children. Families have collected their fresh fruit and veg from North End Road Market and (introduced earlier this year) a trader at Shepherds Bush Market tube station.
In that time more than £50,000 worth of vouchers have been redeemed - not only helping families but also supporting the vibrancy of the local food economy.
Jonathan Pauling of Alexandra Rose said: “We’re thrilled to be taking part in the challenge; it’s a great way for to support families in H&F and for donations to have twice the impact.”
The Alexandra Rose Charity was set up by Queen Alexandra in 1912 to fund health care for Londoners living in poverty. Today its focus is on diet-related ill health and food poverty.
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