Root-and-Branch-Out, a Community Interest Company which engages Rutland communities in food projects, nature and the environment, has received a grant from the Community Foundation’s Coronavirus Support fund towards a Community Fridge project, to help families adversely affected by the pandemic.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Root-and-Branch-Out has been supporting families needing extra help due to the financial implications of lockdown. By working with local schools to identify need, and with supermarkets to make good use of surplus food, the Root-and-Branch-Out team has distributed healthy food parcels to families across Rutland.
After initially receiving a £3,000 grant from the Community Foundation to purchase and deliver emergency food parcels in April, the community interest company has now been awarded a further grant of £3,000 which will help towards setting up and running the community fridge initiative – the first of which will based at Uppingham Town Hall.
Claire Crowley, Director of Root-And-Branch-Out, said: “The grant has helped us to keep working during the lockdown period, with a renewed focus on the crisis.
“Some people in our community have found the lockdown to be a huge struggle, and we have been able to address a local need for assistance. The Community Fridge project has been set up to ensure that families in need have food support for the foreseeable future.”
Katy Green, CEO of Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation said: “Rutland is a wealthy county, but there are areas of rural poverty, and access and support services are limited. Root-And-Branch-Out has helped to alleviate the struggle of many children and families during the lockdown. We’re grateful that the funds provided by local private donors and by the National Emergencies Trust, have helped us support this great community initiative.”
