A Fife meal preparation business has handed out hundreds of meals to those in need as foodbanks across the Kingdom close for the Queen’s funeral.
Super Lean, which operates out of a kitchen in Leven, handed out nearly 300 home-cooked meals to people in Levenmouth, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy on Monday.
Co-owners Gary Greenhill, 36, and Fraser Moncrieff, 27, made the decision to run the free food service after learning that some foodbanks in the region would be closing as a mark of respect.
Gary said: “I thought, ‘we’ll just stay open because the homeless still need to eat’.
“Sometimes the homeless shelters are not open Saturday or Sunday – so another day could really affect families.
“We made a group decision to just open and cook food for people that needed it.”
Super Lean staff worked overtime to provide free meals during Queen’s funeral
Super Lean, which launched in April, sells thousands of meals a week to those interested in health and nutrition.
Its team of chefs worked overtime to prepare hundreds of tasty dishes – including chicken curry, mince and tatties and vegetable soup – to give away on the bank holiday.
Gary said: “We had to get our chefs in yesterday to prepare for today for the meals going out today.
“We put an extra day in it and it cost us a wee bit of money, but it doesn’t matter – it’s for a good cause.
“There’s more to life than making money all the time.”
Super Lean orchestrated three food collections during the state funeral.
People were invited to pick up meals at Burnmill Industrial Estate in Levenmouth, Riverside Park in Glenrothes and The Tavern pub in Kirkcaldy between 10am and 3pm.
Keiran Warrender, Super Lean’s marketing manager, said: “Everyone was very grateful.
“There have been people from all backgrounds come and grab meals.
“Most people are complaining about the lack of help from the government at the moment – the price of gas and electric is a problem for people.”
Gary added: “We are not here to judge, so anybody that wants it, it’s not our place to say, ‘oh well, you look like you’re doing alright’.
“Anybody who wants it can get it and that’s the mindset we’ve went with.”
It comes after concerns were raised that people experiencing financial hardship are being “let down” by the decision to close foodbanks across the country during the Queen’s funeral.
Trussell Trust distribution centres in Forfar and Arbroath are among those closed, as is Dundee’s warehouse at Dunsinane, its centres in Menzieshill, and Glenrothes’ Caledonia House.
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