Urgent appeal: Edinburgh meals charity in desperate plea for van

A lifeline service that is providing nutritious food for Edinburgh residents struggling to feed themselves during the coronavirus pandemic is under threat due to transport problems.

Volunteers at Leith-based charity Empty Kitchens Full Hearts (EKFH) have already handed out nearly 90,000 free meals across the capital during lockdown.

Deliveries have been made using a van loaned to the group by a generous member of the public.

But now the owner needs the vehicle back, leaving the meals without wheels.

Leith-based charity Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts has been creating meals from surplus food to give away to Edinburgh residents during the coronavirus crisis, but the lifeline service is under threat due to a lack of transport

EKFH has issued an urgent appeal in the hope of finding a new benefactor who can provide them with the vital transportation that will allow them continue their important work.

The organisation posted on social media: “We need a van - 87,000 free meals down, 95 per cent of the meals made from food surpluses. Made logistically possible by the van lent to us by a private citizen who now needs it back.

“Our replacement has fallen through. Please help if you can.”

The appeal has even attracted support from renowned Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin, who took to Twitter to help in the search.

“Needed: a kind soul in Leith/Edinburgh with a van to spare,” he tweeted.

Lewis McLachlan, founding director of EKFH, set up the charity to turn surplus food into healthy meals for those who need them.

The group is described as “a movement of volunteer chefs responding to the Covid-19 crisis”, taking food donations and converting them into breakfasts, lunches, dinners and treats and distributing them free of charge to people in need across the city.

They have expressed gratitude to all the individuals and companies that have been helping them provide the meals.

The website states: “From the very first day pack and still today, businesses small and large have given us tremendous support such as food donations, equipment, maintenance services, venue usage and more.

“Each of these acts of kindness, whether one-off or ongoing, has helped us support our community.”

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