Caring couple set out to Feed Fenland with help of family and friends

Wednesday (22) marked week four of a new charitable enterprise aimed at feeding Fenland's hungry.

Set up by Kristi Dowker and her partner George Broughton with the support of their families, Feed Fenland, aims to offer a hot meal for anyone who needs one in the Wisbech area.

The couple have set up the charity with the aim of offering meals to those in need on nights when the town's Salvation Army is unable to provide the service.

Kristi, a vet nurse who is engaged to George, a trainee solicitor, explained they came up with the idea after George's voluntary work with the Salvation Army in Wisbech.

She said the Salvation Army offers meals two nights a week and the hope is Feed Fenland will build on its current two days a week so eventually there is a free meal on offer to those who need one every night of the week in Wisbech.

Kristi said: "We started on one night a week, but are now doing two: Mondays and Wednesdays. We started on Wednesdays but have expanded to Mondays from this week and we are hoping to do a third day and make it a Saturday, so at least one day of the weekend is covered.

"The Salvation Army does Tuesdays and Thursdays so if we can stretch to a third day then there will only be two days left to cover."

The couple are really grateful to their families who have also got involved with George's mum Christine providing the necessary culinary skills in the charity's kitchen, which has a five star hygiene rating from Fenland District Council and they have also been approved by the council to serve the food from the Salvation Army's car park in John Thompson Road.

Kristi said: "Just to be clear we are not linked to the Salvation Army, but we thought it would be a good idea to use the place where people already know a hot meal is available to serve our meals and they were kind enough to agree to us using their car park.

"We have been serving at least 20 to 25 people and we are not only providing a main course but also a dessert.

"Those coming to us are from diverse backgrounds, and we make no judgment, anyone who wants a free meal can have one, even if they rock up in a Bentley, we would still serve them.

"We have had a lot of support from the Community Fridge in March and we have launched a Justgiving appeal to raise money so we can extend what we are doing.

"So far we have relied on the help of friends and family to do what we have been doing, but obviously we need the support of others if we are to keep going and to expand to more days of the week. We also need more volunteers to help with serving the food, so we can have a rota.

"We are called Feed Fenland and that means anyone who can get to us no matter where they live can have a meal, but it would be wonderful if we could spread to other Fenland towns in the future.

"There is so much need out there, we are in hard times, and we just want to do our bit to help."

You can find out more about Feed Fenland and links to their Justgiving appeal through their Facebook page.