Community cafe sees huge increase in demand

A group of volunteers that offer free hot meals to people who are struggling say they are regularly serving up to 40 breakfasts and 70 lunches a day.

Wesley's Community Cafe and Larder in St Annes uses food from supermarkets and other companies that would otherwise go to waste.

They also provide food and toiletries in their larder that people can take if they need them.

"With a bit of luck we waste virtually nothing," volunteer Paul Caddy said.

Mr Caddy said they started eight years ago at Church Road Methodist Church, just serving soup a couple of days a week, but they now open their kitchen four days a week serving a full breakfast and three-course lunch.

"Everybody eats free, everybody eats together," he said. "The social atmosphere is tremendous."

"We're collecting a huge amount of food every day, bring it all back and organise it so the food we don't use in the kitchen all goes to the larder.

"So with a bit of luck we waste virtually nothing."

Chef Jennifer Djebbar says "cottage pie is always a winner" alongside anything "old school and hearty".

She also said it was important to chat to the people who use the service.

"It's not just about feeding their bodies, it's feeding their need to speak to people," she said.

Frank Worrall said he had been using the service for about a year and usually came about twice a week.

The 52-year-old said it was "a friendly place to meet people" where "the food is good".

His friend Yvette, 37, said: "It's really helped me".

"People would struggle if it was gone, everything's gone up in price."

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