W Bro Omaid Hiwaizi SLGR reports

The initiative backed by Dr Rupa Huq MP, Local MP for Ealing Central and Acton, promising 800 free hot meals a week provided by London Masons during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has now passed 10,000 free meals for vulnerable people in West London.

The meals have been delivered to those
in need in partnership with COVID-19
Mutual Aid Ealing, COVID-19 Mutual
Aid Southall and Ealing Homeless Refuge.

Residents in need of help in Ealing and
Acton have been identified by the Council,
local youth centres, women’s refuges,
and the Ealing
Mutual Aid Group.

One recipient of a
meal, Mrs Elizabeth
Casson, who lives in
Hanwell W7,
commented: “It is
very good. We are
now in the 10th
week of the
lockdown, and in all
that time I have only
been able to walk
around the block. I
cannot get to shops
myself and I have
found it almost
impossible to order
any groceries online. In fact, I have only
had one small supermarket grocery
delivery in 10 weeks. For the first couple
of weeks, I had supplies in the house, and
some neighbours helped by getting some
items from the shops, but receiving this
food really does help to supplement what
I can get via my neighbours. Thank you
very much to everyone involved for all
your assistance”.

£25,000 of funding was given by the
London Freemasons’ Charity and the
Masonic Charitable Foundation Covid-
19 Fund, to help provide more meals to
residents in need for at least three months.

RW Bro Sir Michael Snyder, MetGM
said: “This is a hugely important project,
providing hot meals to some of the most
vulnerable people in our community. I’m
proud that Freemasons can give such
practical help during this difficult time.
I’m also really grateful to Ruqa Haq MP
for taking the time to visit the West
London Masonic Centre and offer her
support for our initiative to help local
people in need.”

Bob Hancock Chairman of West London
Masonic Centre said: “This is a fantastic
achievement by our magnificent kitchen
staff Dan Lee and Bob Whitelock ably
supported by Centre Manager John
Holdsworth and the Board of Directors
Rohit Pattni, John Holdsworth, Mike
Craft, Alan South and secretary John
Buckingham.

“Our sincere thanks to Metropolitan
Grand Lodge, Mark Province of London
and the Lodges and Chapters at the centre
who have provided the much-needed
finance to fund this marvellous project.
We are still operating the foodservice and
plan to keep providing meals as they are
wanted through September.”

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 42 October 2020 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 42.