Grimsby Food Kitchen sleeping rough as they push for funds to stay open

The team at Grimsby Food Kitchen are aiming to raise vital funds to stay open by sleeping rough under the A180 flyover.

Set up by Cath and Ken Homewood, the food kitchen, on King Edward Street, provides free food and drink for the homeless and those who are struggling to make ends meet. The team are hoping to get enough donations to keep their doors open to offer food to those who need it most.

In 2019, the food kitchen was saved from closure after raising a total of £11,500 in just three days. Now, volunteer Carrie-Anne Boylen-Smith and others are hoping to keep the donations coming by spending a night under the A180 flyover with nothing but a sleeping bag and cardboard.

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She said: “Myself, Cath and a number of people who have used the food kitchen will be taking part. We’ve also got some local supporters to join in as well as friends who live a little further a field.”

Those taking part include Sue fortune, CEO of Lincolnshire Community Foundation, as well as Roy Sari and Shawn Bell who have both turned their lives around since using the food kitchen. Having done the challenge last year, Carrie-Anne is looking forward to giving it another go, but is preparing herself for the harsh reality yet again.

She said: “The whole thing is quite the experience and I’m looking forward to doing it again. I’m still nervous about it though, especially with the weather set to be colder this time around. I’m fortunate enough to have a bed and warm house to go back to, but not everyone else is and this gives us a chance to understand what it’s like for those people.

“I think the recent storm showed how awful life is on the streets for people and reminded us all why we’re doing this. It also showed us why the kitchen is so important. When it’s bad weather we always have more people coming through the door.”

However, it’s been much harder for the team to get funds so far this year due to the increased cost of living. Carrie-Anne and the others have been working hard to secure donations, but have found it more difficult than ever before with everyone having less disposable income.

However, without these donations, the food kitchen simply can’t stay open. “We want to get the message out there that we can’t continue without these fundraisers and people’s generosity,” she said. “So far we’ve raised £825 and we’d be grateful for absolutely anything that people can give to help us reach our target.”

In an act of generosity, Brewer’s Fayre will be providing the group with a free breakfast after they complete their gruelling challenge. To donate to the Go Fund Me page, click here.