Charity delivers over 2,700 meals to families in need across Portsmouth

To mark this season of giving, the charity is delivering food boxes to families across the country. This included the delivery of 228 food boxes to families facing hardship in the Portsmouth area, equivalent to 2,736 meals.

With 14 million people in the UK at risk of going hungry because they can’t afford food costs, the charity is stepping in to help struggling families. The RRT has worked with the Salvation Army as well as with an extensive network of schools – including Ark Charter Academy and Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery – and with Gosport Community Hub to identify and reach vulnerable families across Portsmouth and surrounding areas.

One of the beneficiaries receiving the boxes said: “The food parcel is a massive help to me at this time of year. As a single parent things are stretched very thin, so this has helped me to give my kids a good Christmas."

Another noted that they are “looking forward to opening the box with my children and cooking together to make a healthy meal. I really appreciate the support for me and my children at this difficult time of year when money is tight."

The RRT aimed to help lift spirits and bring joy during the holiday season by delivering the Holiday Food Boxes, which have been curated with care and compassion by the charity’s volunteers and contain a wide selection of non-perishable goods, such as pasta and rice and cereal bars, enough for 12 nutritious meals. A lot of the boxes also contained special treats including Christmas Pudding, Custard and Candy Canes.

The RRT is delivering Holiday Food Boxes at other locations across the UK in a bid to reach as many vulnerable families as possible during the holiday season. First launched in 2019, the RRT Food Boxes provide immediate relief when it is needed most and are used by the charity to help support people in crisis. The Holiday Food Box initiative follows the charity’s success in delivering over 2 million meals to families and children in need in Gaza.

The Rapid Relief Team is made up volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and is dedicated to putting compassion into action. The charity offers practical support to charities, emergency services and other organisations supporting those in need across the UK and the world.

Richard Luker, RRT Volunteer, said: “The holiday period can be an especially difficult time for families who are already struggling, and at the RRT we want to bring a hope and relief where it’s needed most. Being able to deliver these Holiday Food Boxes across Portsmouth has been a real privilege for our volunteers.

“Each box is packed with care and compassion, and we hope they will make the season feel a little brighter for the families who receive them. As volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, we’re committed to supporting our local communities, and it’s heartening to know these meals will help ease the pressure for families during the festive period.”