Just Eat and Social Bite have launched a new campaign to provide meals to up to 200,000 homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas.
Helen Mirren has made a video appeal to raise money for the appeal and other well-known faces including Rob Brydon and Sir Chris Hoy have posted videos backing the new Christmas Meal Appeal.
The appeal comes after reports detail the increasing issue of homelessness in the UK, and the increased pressure and reliance on charities as the nation deals with the economic and social fallout of the Covid pandemic.
2020 has been like no other, but one positive outcome from this exceptionally challenging year is the sense of community and camaraderie that has emerged. Over half (55%) of Brits say they will make more of an effort this Christmas than ever before to help those less fortunate, and this feeling is even stronger when it comes to younger generations, jumping to 70% among those aged 16-24 years.
The Just Eat Christmas Meal Appeal is the perfect opportunity to help out and give back as we move towards the Christmas celebration, with many of us now hoping to be able to spend it with at least some of our family and friends. Just Eat has committed to raising funds for at least 100,000 Christmas meals for homeless and vulnerable people and with support from customers, are aiming to fund up to 200,000. Customers can take part by clicking the donation button whilst they order their takeaway. They’ll have the choice of making a £3, £5 or £10 donation and Just Eat will match it, pound for pound.
The funds raised will be donated to charities Social Bite who support homeless people through meal donations and FoodCycle who support vulnerable people suffering from food poverty through food banks and community projects. The initiative has also been praised by former government advisor on homelessness, Dame Louise Casey, who remains one of the UK’s most active advocates around the issues of homelessness and food poverty.
Andrew Kenny UK MD for Just Eat commented: “After an exceptionally difficult year for so many, we’re proud to partner with Social Bite & FoodCycle, matching customers’ donations pound for pound to provide tens of thousands of Christmas meals for the UK’s homeless and vulnerable people.”
Josh Littlejohn from Social Bite added: “This year has been a lot more difficult than most, with many people finding themselves financially vulnerable and in the worst-case, homeless. We know that Christmas, in particular, can be a very challenging time which is why we’re delighted to be partnering with Just Eat for the Christmas Meal Appeal to help fill at least 100,000 plates this year all over the UK’.
Dame Louise Casey said: “The economic conditions that have prevailed across the UK since March means there has rarely been the same need as there is now to support our homeless people and I really welcome initiatives like Just Eat’s Christmas meal appeal to raise funds and awareness for charities like Social Bite”.
Mary McGrath, FoodCycle CEO says: “We are delighted that Just Eat are supporting FoodCycle again this winter. The Christmas Meal Appeal will help us provide nutritious meals to the thousands of people who simply cannot afford to buy food, including low income families, the elderly, key workers, students and asylum seekers.”
