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Lucknam Park (above) and Ellenborough Park (below right) are two local gaffs that are already supporting Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food campaign
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nce again, it’s almost time for Action Against Hunger’s annual fundraising campaign to kick off. Each year, the months of September and October see restaurants from all over our region – heck, all over the country – join forces to help support the vital work that this 40-year old charity does across the world. Our South West patch might be small, but it’s mighty when it comes to doing its bit to help fight hunger and malnutrition. The Love Food Give Food campaign sees a voluntary £1 donation added to punters’ bills at participating restaurants and cafés, or included in the cost of a best-selling dish. For each £1 that gets donated, 87p is injected straight into the charity’s global projects, which include everything from creating food security to providing drinking water and responding to crises such as droughts and earthquakes. The restaurant team ring this money through the till (that’s if any tills actually still ring?) as a non-VAT item, so they can track how much they take over the two-month period of the campaign, and then transfer it over to Action Against Hunger. Right now, the charity’s South West team is busy telling restaurants all about this initiative, and getting them signed up. There are a couple of Cotswolds venues on the list, including Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham and Lucknam Park near Colerne, but the team is keen to get more venues in the area involved. Think that £1 ain’t gonna do much? How about £470,00? That’s what the campaign raised last year, thanks to 400 restaurants and their punters, who donated just £1 at a time. And it seems that the cause has really struck a chord with foodies in the area. “Being a chef, food is an integral part of my life that has brought me much happiness and joy. It saddens me to think that there are parts of our society where hunger and starvation still exist,” says Hywel Jones, executive chef at Lucknam Park. “Action against Hunger aims to provide all children and their families with the basic nutritious food they require simply to survive. I, and the entire team at Lucknam Park, feel honoured to support such a great cause.” And his sentiment is echoed by Oliver Williams, general manager at Ellenborough Park. “We know that Action against Hunger is a charity close to many people’s hearts, including a large number of our team members and guests, and as such Ellenborough Park are proud to support such an important and vital campaign. With the help of our guests, and the support of our team, we hope to provide malnourished children across the world with access to the nutrition needed in order to help them grow and develop.” Romy Gill, who is based in Thornbury, is another local food hero who has been inspired to take action for the cause, and has seen, first hand, where the funds go. “We went to Burma and saw how the work done by AAH helps and builds communities,” she says. “For instance, with clean water tanks, and projects to help new mums.” As many as one in eight children go to bed hungry each night worldwide – and while thankfully that average comes way down when you look at our local patch, it’s an undeniable problem. Luckily, it’s one that we can not only help solve, but help solve while keeping our own bellies full, too…
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WAYS TO GET INVOLVED EAT AT restaurants supporting the Love Food Give Food campaign during September and October and donate with your bill. RAISE FUNDS for Action Against Hunger yourself by by taking part in a local sponsored event. STEP UP to the plate and hold a dinner party with a difference as part of The Great Get Together. Gather your friends and family, serve them a tasty meal and get them donating in return. (For more information and to receive your digital dinner party pack, e-mail community@ actionagainsthunger.org.uk) actionagainsthunger.org.uk