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Streatham’s Lunch Club set a crowdfunder target of £5k – and smashed it with £12,500 raised, including £2,500 match funding from Crowdfund Lambeth, more than 50 supporters from the local community, and a pledge of £4,750 from Sovereign Network Group: Thriving Communities Fund.
Cooking for the community
The Lunch Club – started by Richard Pike who left the corporate world to start a charity to provide nutritious, freshly cooked hot lunches, social interaction, and support to vulnerable individuals facing poverty or financial hardship – asked for community funding to continue offering a safe space for communal meals throughout the winter when people struggle the most with that awful decision to ‘heat or eat’. The lunches will also be a gateway to other charities and sources of support.
The Lunch Club is also supported by the Streatham retail business community and food distribution groups donating the surplus food that is the club’s lifeblood. A community kitchen and dining areas will act as the club’s central base. The crowdfunder will help pay for serving equipment, crockery and cutlery and protective clothing such as aprons, gloves, and hairnets for volunteers and supporters.
Day by day
The Lunch Club currently opens 12-2 every Friday, with extra days added from February 2024 until it’s open for healthy, nutritious meals Monday to Friday, with a central Streatham space to store food, cook, serve and support all in one place.
Help keep the club going
Crowdfunder project leader Richard Pike said: “The Lunch Club wants to thank all supporters for their generous donations, allowing us to continue delivering our much-needed service throughout 2024 and beyond!
“The Lunch Club is always on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers. If you’re interested in getting involved visit the website and contact Richard via the contact form.”
Community support
Community supporters’ messages included: “Seeing how many people are requesting help for themselves, their family or others is heartbreaking. This is a great initiative and I wish the team all the best.”
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