JCB's 'Food for our Communities' initiative has reached a major milestone after the UK-based equipment manufacturer despatched the 10,000th meal from its kitchens for those in need in Staffordshire, central England, during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The scheme was the idea of Carole Bamford, wife of JCB chairman Lord Bamford, and has been operating for a month. Catering staff at the company’s World HQ in Rocester have been preparing cottage pies, macaroni cheese and Bolognese dishes for disadvantaged families and individuals across the region during the crisis.
So far, the team has used around two tonnes of potatoes, more than one tonne of minced beef and almost half a tonne of both pasta and onions to prepare the dishes.
In India – where JCB has factories in Delhi, Pune and Jaipur – the initiative is being conducted on a larger scale and staff there have now prepared 100,000 meals.
Carole Bamford said: “I’m very proud of all the work the teams in the UK and India are undertaking. Their efforts are making a real difference to the lives of so many people in our communities.”
Thousands of the meals made in Staffordshire are being distributed across Stoke-on-Trent by the Burslem-based Hubb Foundation, to children and families in need across the city.
Founder Carol Shanahan said: “You cannot underestimate the impact the JC’ ‘Food for our Communities’ initiative is having on families in our city. Those receiving the food are just so very grateful that companies like JCB are stepping in to help at” this time. It’s simply amazing.”
