Reducing food waste and supporting the community
Millissa took the helm of Affordable Food Stoke more than 12 months ago and in that time the charity has become a way of life for herself and her family.
Previously a trustee, Millissa is supported in her role by a fantastic band of volunteers who work tirelessly to provide emergency food and essentials to families living in the Blurton area.
Their mission is simple – to reduce food waste in Stoke-on-Trent and feed the community and the charity now carries out 25 collections a week from local supermarkets.
Their services include a foodbank, daily free food, social supermarket, community meals and warm space – all of which has helped earn the charity numerous awards including VAST Totally Stoked Biggest Impact Award 2024.
Affordable Food Stoke is a recognized community hub offering digital inclusion classes and health and wellbeing sessions to people living locally.
This year Millissa has made it her personal mission to offer support and expertise to other organisations and charities that are working to prevent and relieve poverty in the wider city.
Recognising the links between food poverty and ill health, Millissa and some of her team have also signed up to the Community Health Champions project which aims to relay important health messaging to people in their communities.
She said: “Now in our 8th year, Affordable Food is well known in the community for being warm and welcoming and we have come to know lots of people who naturally share some of their health conditions and worries with us.”
“Being part of the Community Health Champions network means that we can encourage the people we work with to make sure their vaccinations and screening is up to date and better signpost people to where they can get further help and support with things like quitting smoking or living healthier lives.”
To kickstart the New Year, Affordable Food Stoke will be hosting a new group – The Stoke Blokes – to support men with their mental health. The group will meet on Fridays from 10.00 am – 12.00 noon at 77-81 Meaford Drive, Blurton.
