Charity to deliver 600 meals to those needing support in Leeds community over Christmas period

The Leeds Jewish Welfare Board (LJWB) is running an initiative to enable it to provide meals to individuals or families in the community that need support over the festive period.

The ‘Donate A Dish’ scheme will see a total of 600 meals provided, with 300 each day on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Over 430 three-course Shabbat meals have been donated so far at a cost of a £10 donation each meal.

Head of Community Engagement and Inclusion at LJWB, Tracy Bickler, said: “After a difficult year we want to reach out and lighten the load for people across the community over the holiday period.

“Many people in the community have experienced ill health, social isolation, stress and anxiety this year and we wanted to lift that burden a little for them and bring some light into their lives.

“The community response has been overwhelming and we are on target to provide 300 meals each day.”

LJWB is running the ‘Donate A Dish’ initiative in partnership with four synagogues in Leeds, including BHH, Etz Chaim, Sinai and UHC.

The food is being prepared by the McQue’s kosher caterers at the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre and a team of volunteers have been recruited from the five organisations to deliver the meals to people’s homes.

Meals will be delivered frozen on December 24 and December 31 ready to be heated up the following day.

Donations can be made here until December 13.