Oxford Mutual Aid’s new kitchen collective is seeking local chefs to volunteer one evening a fortnight to cook hot meals for its volunteers to deliver.
The grassroots community support group and action network was formed to address challenges related to the coronavirus outbreak in and around Oxford.
With many food banks and homeless cafes in Oxford closing, Oxford Mutual Aid is still open, and its volunteers have delivered 1500 meals to NHS and other key workers, as well as 500 Easter treats this past weekend alone.
“Community-oriented, collaboratively-minded chefs have the capacity to make a real difference to our community during the crisis”
It has also delivered nearly 200 food parcels to the vulnerable, including over 50 migrant families and the homeless because even AgeUK, which once delivered hot meals to the elderly, has now stopped operations.
But requests for help are still pouring in, so Oxford Mutual Aid is reaching out to local chefs to volunteer one evening a fortnight to cook hot meals for the charity to deliver from its new kitchen collective.
“Community-oriented, collaboratively-minded chefs have the capacity to make a real difference to our community during the crisis,” Emily Connally, part of the support team at Oxford Mutual Aid explains.
Chefs could help in several ways by preparing takeaway meals from their kitchens for Oxford Mutual Aid key workers to deliver to vulnerable individuals (especially until local food banks and drop ins are able to reopen and serve our homeless and refugee populations in particular).
There are other ways people can help as well: Oxford Mutual Aid is also seeking any excess takeaway containers/food safe containers to safely split bulk donations into parcels for individual families, as well as any new/unused medium sized boxes and carrier/takeaway bags.
Any surplus materials including tins, produce, milk, flour, eggs, would be greatly appreciated.
“We have a baker who is part of the collective and able to bake loaves for families in need, and any materials they could use for the solidarity loaf program would be greatly appreciated,” Emily adds.
“Our Kitchen Collective is still in the earliest stages of creation, but you can find out more about what we do at https://oxfordmutualaid.org,” she adds.
Oxford Mutual Aid is an association of volunteers and its funds are comprised entirely of donations. Funds raised will also be used to respond to specific requests from organisations such as Refugee Resource, African Families in the UK, Asylum Welcome, the Oxford Homeless Project, and in partnership with SOFEA community larders.
Charities involved in supporting people by delivering food are considered to be part of key frontline services that currently continue to operate.
If you are interested, or can help, please send an email to kitchencollective@oxfordmutualaid.org or ring 07310 160 595.
Ring 07310 160 595 or go to https://oxfordmutualaid.org/about.html if you need their services.
