Preston man cooks and delivers 50 hot meals every day for people in need during lockdown

'Here For Humanity', a none profit organisation set up in Ashton-on-Ribble, has been serving more than 50 homemade meals a day, 7 days a week for people in need – that's over 350 hot meals a week.

Chris Murray, 32, set up the community group after he was forced to leave his construction job and close his business ‘Preston Sweet Boxes’ at the beginning of lockdown.

Despite his circumstances, Chris decided to help his neighbours who were self-isolating due to Covid-19 by preparing a few extra portions when cooking dinner.

He also began to post on social media asking if people knew anyone who needed help getting shopping and other essentials.

At first Chris and his partner were serving 10 hot meals a day for people in need, but within a week they expanded to up to 50 home cooked meals.

Chris said: “We were approached by Evan's Fish & Chips who have been helping Purple Roomz as they are housing 45 homeless at Bamber Bridge, so we are now cooking alongside Evan’s to help feed them.

“We also cook for up to 20 isolated people every day, and if we prepare something like a big curry, we’ll cook an extra 10 or 20 portions for the staff at Royal Preston Hospital.”

As well as cooked meals, Chris and his team of around 30 volunteers have also been providing meat and fresh vegetables for NHS staff at RPH to make sure they have enough food at home.

His team also delivers over 100 care packages a week for families in need, which include store cupboard essentials such a bread, milk, pasta, tinned food and vegetables – all tailored for each family's needs.

“As our number of meals increased, Ingol Community Primary School kindly let us use their kitchen to cook our meals, helping us to increase our production as we cook their every day,” Chris said.

“We also got permission to open a foodbank in Tanterton Village Centre as the town didn’t have one and was having to use supplies from Ingol. On its first day over 60 families reached out to us.

“We’ve also opened a food bank in Emmanuel Social Club for people in Plungington.”

Chris is also hoping to expand into PPE by sending out homemade face makes and shields that have been donated to the group to care homes across the county.

Chris added: "I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has got involved."

To help Chris and his team deliver hot cooked meals to vulnerable people, donate to their Go Fund Me page by clicking HERE.

Check out the 'Here For Humanity' Facebook page by clicking HERE.