By Madeline Walker
A Beaumont Leys based non-profit group has delivered more than 10,000 food parcels to hundreds of local families in need since the beginning of the pandemic.
The group, called E2, currently supports 652 families in the area with its food parcels service.
Each parcel includes seven warm meals, meaning 71,932 meals have been distributed to families from the E2 Emergency Food Distribution Centre on 250 Astill Lodge Road so far.
Project co-ordinator Guleid Rooble said: “The community really pulled together.
“Our 152 volunteers really are community champions.
“I feel happy that those people are being helped. Some people have fallen through the net, and it takes the pressure off (the families) which is very satisfying for me personally.”
At the start of the pandemic, E2 Launched multiple projects in response to their rising concerns about their community.
These included the emergency food parcel scheme, Street Co-ordinators, and a telephone befriending scheme which hopes to provide ‘help, comfort, (and) support’ through the covid pandemic.
In a video post on its Facebook page, E2online, a food parcel recipient praises the non-profit organisation for all the support given to them and their family.
Food parcel recipient, Omnia Hamsa said: “They’ve helped me so much. And also the E2 youth session; they’re so supportive. And with my daughter being off school it’s all she got, she loves going there.”
Similar praise can be seen throughout the page.
The telephone befriending scheme was started to help anybody in the community feeling isolated, and the team are currently taking up to 100 calls a day.
In addition to this its Street Co-ordinators have been going door-to-door keeping residents informed on the help available, including information on the youth support groups available which are aimed at preventing knife crime.
To get involved and sign up as a volunteer visit Action Leicestershire at: https://valonline.org.uk/ or Do It at: https://doit.life/.
