‘Incredible’ donation saves Blackpool Big Food Project food bank

An emergency meals charity that was below menace of closure has been saved after an “extremely beneficiant donation”, its boss has mentioned.The Large Meals Venture redistributes surplus meals from supermarkets and producers to 125 meals banks, colleges, neighborhood kitchens, disaster providers and households throughout Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. It sends out sufficient meals for about 900,000 meals a yr, its founder Neil Reid has mentioned, however wanted “individuals to volunteer meals and chilly, exhausting money” for it to maintain going.Now a partnership with energy community operator SP Electrical energy North West will see emergency funding present about 36,000 meals.The brand new partnership will run all through 2026.SP Electrical energy North West’s chief working officer Stephanie Trubshaw mentioned the meals financial institution was “a lifeline to households”.”We have numerous partnerships to help residents in our space with energy-saving recommendation and after we learnt that The Large Meals Venture was dealing with potential closure, we wished to step in and supply help.”Our groups will work intently with the meals financial institution whereas additionally selling the opposite providers we offer which can be of profit.”The Large Meals Venture’s chief govt officer Claire Powell mentioned: “This extremely beneficiant donation means we are able to maintain our doorways open and supply hundreds of meals throughout the Fylde coast over Christmas and into 2026.”The Large Meals Venture, which has about 150 volunteers, was arrange in 2012 and initially began as Blackpool Meals Financial institution.The non-profit organisation distributes about 50 tonnes of meals a month to meals banks.