KENDAL’S People’s Cafe has received a nutritious boost from supermarket giant Morrison’s.

The store’s branch in the town is the latest food outlet in the district to donate produce to the 18-month-old community enterprise.

And the gift of 12 crates of fruit and vegetables is a timely one as the People’s Cafe is busy providing weekly free lunches in August for schoolchildren and their families at Kendal Parish Church’ Hall.

People’s Cafe volunteer Gillian Cowburn told The Westmorland Gazette that Morrison’s community champion Kirsty Ireland contacted the organisation two weeks ago to offer unsold fruit and veg that would otherwise go to landfill.

The charity already receives regular donations of produce from other sources, including Parsons fruit and veg wholesalers, Kendal; Booths supermarket, Kendal; McClure’s of Windermere, a food wholesaler to hotels and hospitality businesses; and Hazelmere Cafe, Grange-over-Sands, which donates waste bread.

“We get donations of food and produce from many generous sources - too many to mention - and we are grateful to all of them,” said Gillian.

The People’s Cafe usually provides lunches at South Lakes Foyer on Blackhall Road, Kendal; but for the five Wednesdays of August is providing lunches at Kendal Parish Church Hall following a request from the vicar of Kendal, Rev Rob Saner-Haigh.

“We are using the church hall kitchen to prepare meals during the long summer holiday for children who normally get free school meals and their families,” said Gillian.

“Also, for anyone else who needs a meal.

“In addition to what we do as Kendal People’s Cafe, some of the ladies connected with the church bring along cakes and scones and jam they’ve made. People are just so generous and kind; it’s all really humbling when you think about it.”

People’s Cafe lunches at South Lakes Foyer will resume after the end of August.

The charity was founded by Helen Pateman in 2017. Shortly afterwards she was joined by Gillian and another volunteer Windi Lethbridge.

To find out more about Kendal People’s Cafe, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kendalpeoplescafe/