COMMUNITY Lunch Club was set up in November 2018 as a monthly event run by the Crediton Congregational Church (CCC).

It is part of CCC’s Community Support Outreach, showing God’s love in action.

Open to all it offers a relaxed, friendly, non-judgemental, safe space for people to gather, make friends and have a healthy "home-cooked" meal.

Its popularity has increased and pre-Covid up to 50 people were attending each month. It is very relaxed with people helping themselves to coffee as they arrive, sitting to chat and do the monthly picture quiz that also acts as a conversation starter.

Sadly, everything stopped in March, but volunteers kept in touch with people with a weekly telephone call, if wanted.

Three lunch club deliveries were organised since June and although people missed out on the social aspect, it meant that at least they have one day when they didn’t have to cook for themselves, which for some was wonderful.

Two local chefs were generous with their time, skills, and donations of food and packaging.

Eran Hovav, from The Baobab Café, cooked a delicious roast dinner in June, and Jim Cairney, from Cairney’s Bistro, created a tasty lasagne in September, with meat donated by MC Kelly of Copplestone. Thanks also to The Trawler’s Catch who gave discount on 50 fish and chip portions.

A huge thank you to everyone who has made this possible; it’s been a great community collaboration. Thanks also to all the volunteers who ring round to organise it and others who deliver the lunches and stop to chat with people. For some who have been shielding and do not have family around this is invaluable.

We are so fortunate to live in such a caring community, including our local businesses and look forward to further collaborations in the future.

Chris Parsons

Community Support Worker and Foodbank Coordinator

Crediton Congregational Church