OVER 600 Christmas meals are being delivered to locals of West Lothian in time for the festive season.
The initiative, which aims to help tackle poverty and hunger, is the brainchild of catering and support service Compass Scotland, in partnership with West Lothian charity The Larder.
Chefs at Compass Scotland have prepared over 600 festive dishes in the lead up to Christmas – with a combination of sit-down meals and deliveries.
The chefs served 120 three course Christmas meals for locals at The Larder’s two Community Cafes in Blackburn and Broxburn on 18 and 19 December.
Over 500 three course Christmas “ready meals” are being prepared and delivered by Compass Scotland for Christmas Day alongside The Larder’s social food project, Catalyst Kitchen.
The freshly prepared dishes are being cooked, packed and delivered throughout the region today, in time for the big day.
The meals comprise vegetable and lentil soup to start, a traditional main course of turkey with all the trimmings or a plant-based option, and sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce for dessert.
Volunteers from Compass Scotland and The Larder are preparing and delivering the meals, with ingredients donated by a host of suppliers.
The Larder was founded in 2010 to address rising youth unemployment in West Lothian and since then, the organisation has helped more than 5,000 people access training and delivered more than 200,000 meals to those in the region experiencing food insecurity.
David Hay, managing director of Compass Scotland said: “We know that this Christmas will be incredibly tough for many people in Scotland, with the cost-of-living crisis continuing to deepen.
“We’re proud to be able to offer our services to help charities like The Larder who are doing incredible work in the local community and hope these Christmas meals offer some comfort and joy during the festive season.
Emma Hamilton, director of corporate affairs at The Larder, said: “Our partnership with Compass Scotland continues to be a lifeline for many West Lothian residents, delivering vital support to those facing food insecurity amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“From 120 three-course meals in our community cafes to 500 Christmas lunches being delivered directly to homes, their generosity is helping us bring comfort, connection and nourishment to people during these challenging times.
“Together, not only are we tackling food insecurity and isolation for families and individuals who rely on our services but spreading a little bit of joy and kindness during this festive season, ensuring no one feels forgotten at this special time of year.”
Compass Scotland works with The Larder throughout the year via its employee volunteer programme.
As well as preparing and delivering meals and assisting in the community cafes, Compass chefs provide training programmes to further develop the charity’s hospitality skills.
