Food Story
Vegelicious Case Study: Rainbow Surprise
Food Story
“No one wants to have to ask for help, you can see them approaching us, walking really slowly. As they arrive we give them a warm welcome and you can see them relax.”
Shakar
Rainbow Surprise, Crumpsall
Shakar is looking disappointed. He’s just had a phone call from someone asking if he can help with her ironing, her iron has just broken and she’s due in work in 30 minutes. “If she gave me a couple of hours I could have done something, I just can’t manage it in half an hour,” he says.
This is a typical response from the team at Rainbow Surprise, they just want to help. Started by Shabnam over 14 years ago the charity has grown and is a welcoming space open to everyone. As well as emergency food provision, a community fridge and pantry they offer a fresh and healthy meal and a salon. Their beautiful community garden is home to what will become a café or outdoor classroom and provides some of the produce used in their hot meals. We were sent off with a delicious vegetable stir fry containing home grown peas, carrots, kale and spring onions.
On the day of our visit preparation was underway for hot lunches that will be used by the holiday play scheme. Shabnam is keen to include as much fresh fruit for the children as possible and tells us how excited they were to have watermelon recently.
In October Rainbow Surprise will open their warm hub which will run until February. Volunteer Jane loves her involvement with this project and says many members of the community come for the company as much as the hot meal.
Rainbow Surprise demonstrate empathy from all angles. Shakar and Shabnam both said they put themselves in the shoes of their visitors. “No one wants to have to ask for help, you can see them approaching us, walking really slowly. As they arrive we give them a warm welcome and you can see them relax.”
This is echoed by a beneficiary that we met. After a referral from the Job Centre for emergency support, she now travels from out of the district to Crumpsall to use the community fridge and pantry. “They understood my situation,” she says. “They asked me what facilities I had and what I liked to eat and took me around to find the right food that I could use. They treated me really well. I just came today to say hello and thank you.”
If you’re from a charity or community group supporting those experiencing food insecurity and would like to know more, please get in touch with Sharon, our Vegelicious Coordinator by emailing sharon.robinson@emergemanchester.co.uk
