Rachael Hamilton MSP met with Guilia Russi of Meal Makers, to discuss how the project can help tackle social isolation through a food-sharing project.
Meal Makers is a free, local neighbourhood food-sharing project that uses an online platform to connect volunteers of any age who have a passion for cooking and want to be active in their communities, ‘cooks’, with older neighbours, ‘diners’, who would appreciate a delicious home cooked meal from a friendly neighbour.
Once a Cook and Diner have been matched, the Cook will prepare an extra meal and deliver it to their Diner at a time agreed by both parties, usually about once a week.
It promotes community connections, reduces food poverty and malnutrition and combats social isolation by breaking down the barriers that lead to loneliness.
This approach is a flexible way for people to volunteer their time and skills locally in a way that suits them.
Meal Makers are also keen to make connections with GPs and other organisations so that a referral can be made to the meal service.
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton said:
“Meal Makers is a fantastic project that brings people together for a lovely home cooked meal.
“The impact that this project is having is twofold, it helps tackle social isolation and reduces food poverty.
“Something so simple as sharing a lovingly made home cooked meal can really make a massive difference to someone’s day, and I wish the project all the very best of success”
“I am grateful to everyone in the Borders who helps their elderly neighbours, especially those experiencing loneliness, and I would encourage people to take up this great initiative.
“If you would like to get involved, then please contact 0141 551 8118 or email: hello@mealmakers.org.uk”.