As with everyone the virus came at us like a bat out of hell and caused the Trustees and staff to think hard.  The unanimous staff response was that, conditions permitting, they would continue to attend work and do whatever the Charity thought best and it has to be said that to their credit they have stuck to this stance doggedly and have maintained their stations throughout.

The Charity’s Trustees soon agreed a general plan to make all the public spaces in St. Luke’s available to any authority who might need to use them and or for the building to be used in some way to help alleviate the anticipated food deprivation in the community.  They agreed that the Over 50’s worker’s hours would be increased from 2.5 to 4 days a week to further target the vulnerable and elderly and enhance the food relief effort.  They made £20,000 available from reserves to be spent as needed.  The staff all mucked in to put the café into use and to share the regular cooking of food that is frozen for distribution.  Fair Share food was delivered by the Council and the Charity purchased additional provisions as required.  That effort has been continued to date with over 200 meals going out each week.  Also a big thank you to Lloyds of London who have delivered 50 prepared meals every week for us to distribute.

For three months in 2021 the Community Hall was used as a Covid Testing Station.

The café and its seating area were not being used at the start of the virus outbreak and before long it was decided that it should be a basis for food cooking and distribution.  Once regular consignments of foods started arriving it was decided to cook as much of the perishable and un-distributable food (augmented by our own purchases) and store it in suitable 650 mill freezer containers.  The cooking and freezing of meals and distribution to individuals and groups has been going on continuously since early April 2020.  Newham Council augmented this work by giving the charity a new freezer and a new fridge.