Covid-19 scheme to provide free meals in Sheffield

The new national Initiative Open Kitchens has launched in Sheffield with Tamper, which has branches on Westfield Terrace and Arundel Street in the city centre, and The Depot Bakery, of Burton Road, Neepsend, cooking the first batch of community funded meals for NHS staff at the Royal Hallamshire hospital.

The initiative brings together restaurants and their communities to fund, produce and deliver free meals to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tamper and Depot are the first to open their kitchens in Sheffield and work for free to cook meals for those in need in the community.

Last Friday, 800 meals were served directly to NHS staff at the Royal Hallamshire by the Tamper team.

A hospital spokesman said: “We are really thankful for this.

“Our staff are working very hard and it’s great that the community have donated, so they can have nice meals to take home after a shift.’”

Tamper and The Depot Bakery's target is to cook 800 meals a week for the next 12 weeks for those in need and has already reached 2,000 of its 12,000 meal target.

Funded by the Sheffield community, people can donate as an individual or organisation via their Just Giving Page on www.openkitchens.co.uk – Just £1.85 will provide a hearty meal for someone who needs it.

FirePit Rocks, of West Street, is the second Sheffield restaurant to join the initiative and already has nearly 1,500 meals funded. It will be opening its kitchens shortly to cook the first batch of public-funded meals.

Open Kitchens is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to safeguard the vulnerable by working with restaurants and their communities in order to produce and distribute nutritious meals to those who need it, funded and powered by the community.

Further restaurants are needed to join the initiative in Sheffield - anyone interested in getting involved is asked to email [email protected].

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