London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney AM visited Canaan Kitchen in Tottenham this last week to help serve healthy hot meals with volunteers and meet the vulnerable people the Canaan Kitchen supports. Run by the OK Foundation, the Canaan Kitchen provides support to up to 50 vulnerable people each week in Tottenham.
The Canaan Kitchen project is a drop-in facility where vulnerable people, including homeless, isolated or disadvantaged people can meet to socialise and access support and guidance with a hot meal free of charge. The experienced team of skilled volunteers provide advice and guidance on a range of issues.
Joanne McCartney AM assisted volunteers in serving hot meals and spoke with people who rely on the support and generosity provided at the Canaan Kitchen. The project caters for between 35 and 50 people on Saturdays with half that number on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Haringey is the 6th most deprived borough in London with rough sleeping increasing every year under Boris Johnson and has seen food poverty rise with a 77% increase in food bank usage since 2012. Furthermore figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal that nearly a third of jobs (29.5%) in Haringey pay less than the London Living Wage.
Local Labour London Assembly Member Joanne McCartney AM said:
“The work and support that the OK Foundation founder Christina and the volunteers at the Canaan Kitchen provide to Haringey’s vulnerable residents is really valuable. I spoke with many people who have been going through tough times and welcome the hot meals and advice provided at the Canaan Kitchen.
“The work that Christina and the volunteers provide is a great help to people who do not have access to a hot meal and advice. However, the increasing numbers of people sleeping rough and relying on food banks is a concern that the Mayor of London has failed to address.
“Fortunately there are people like Christina are determined to do all they can to support people who are going through difficult times and ensure they get a hot meal and advice that everyone deserves.”
Notes to editors
- Joanne McCartney is the London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey.
- Photo of Joanne McCartney AM (middle) visiting Canaan Kitchen can be found here.
- The number of people in Haringey using food banks was 404 in 2011/12 and has risen to 1735 in 2014/15.
- The total number of people sleeping rough has increased from 2807 in 2005/06 to 7581 in 2014/15.
- The project is open:
- At lunch times on Wednesdays (12 to 2 pm) - Cook and Eat/healthy eating workshops
- Saturdays (6.30 to 8.30 pm) - healthy three-course meals and entertainment
- Sundays (11 am to 1 pm) breakfast/singing workshops to improve mental health and well being