Ribble Valley entrepreneur donates vital meals to community food banks

Ribble Valley entrepreneur and business owner, Matthew Riley, is giving back to the community by donating hundreds of meals per week to those in need during the coronavirus crisis.

The founder of Daisy Group, Nelson, has this week announced his support for the Ribble FM Community Group, donating 50 two-course meals per week to the charity. He has already committed to donations in Burnley and Pendle; which means 450 meals per week in total.

When the lockdown was announced, the Ribble FM group found itself delivering 40 parcels a week to those in need, but is now packing and delivering over 100 parcels a day.

Katie Blezard, community coordinator, said: “We’re helping a huge spectrum of people across the Ribble Valley, from people living alone, to families without incomes and demand has gone through the roof; our volunteers are working seven days a week to get parcels to those who need them.

“We really appreciate Matthew’s donation of meals which will be warmly welcomed throughout the community and we cannot thank him and all the other generous people for showing their support.”

Matthew has engaged the services of APB Catering to prepare the meals for Ribble Valley residents in need during this time.

He has already committed his personal support to Burnley FC in the Community, Pendle Food For All, Inspiring Grace, and Nelson Community Mosque.

Daisy Group, a provider of telecoms and business communications services has a strong heritage in the area and Matthew is passionate about the company’s responsibilities in supporting the local community and the people that reside within it.

Matthew said: “The demand for food banks has increased during the current pandemic, yet donations are rapidly decreasing and supplies are scarce. I wanted do my bit and I’d encourage everyone, wherever possible, to try and donate something to their local food bank to help keep these vital services running.”

Tony Black, owner of APB Catering, is using Daisy’s on-site kitchen, to prepare and cook the freshly made food parcels every week; each emergency food parcel containing a nutritious hot meal and pudding; the puddings going down particularly well with the elderly!

According to research, almost 12,000 food parcels were handed out by food banks in Lancashire and the North West in 2019, and these figures are expected to dramatically increase as people struggle for money for food during the pandemic.