Have you heard about the Empty Plate Café in Worthing? It is a project run by Mark Brocklehurst, who aims to intercept food waste and turn it into healthy meals, feeding the community on a 'pay as you feel' basis.
Their service to the community is outstanding and as it’s a cause close to our hearts here at Homewise, we’re extremely proud to be sponsoring their Community Christmas Dinner in December. Read on to learn more about the project and how you could get involved this Christmas.
What do they do?
The Empty Plate Café’s concept is a simple one. The team prepare and serve delicious, home-cooked meals for anyone who needs them, all on a 'pay as you feel' basis. The café is open to everyone in the local community, including low-income families, students and homeless people.
In Mark’s words, “the revolutionary 'pay as you feel' idea encourages people to think about what that plate of food means to them, if they can't afford to pay money, then they may want to wash up or weigh some intercepted food or spread the word about the project.”
A menu board shows what meals they have available each day and the price you pay can be any amount you feel. If someone cannot afford to pay for their food, they can still leave with a full belly! There is no pressure on anybody to pay for anything.
Where is it?
The Café is based at the Lovett Centre in Worthing, West Sussex and is open all year round, 11am-6pm Tuesdays and 8:30am-3pm Wednesdays*. The café is open to the public, so anybody can go along and enjoy a meal.
What’s on at the Café?
There are regular community events alongside the usual open hours, but this Christmas is particularly special.
There are 3 main party events, from the kids disco, which includes a buffet, games and even a Christmassy photo booth, through to the Boxing Day lunch. No one need go hungry or eat alone this Christmas.
We’re so excited to be joining Mark and his team for their Community Christmas Dinner on Tuesday 19th December 2017. They will be serving up a Christmas feast complete with roast turkey and all the trimmings, plus there’ll be a fantastic present raffle for the kids!
Come along and support the amazing work they do, and we’ll be there volunteering on the day too. They are always looking for extra volunteers and helpers to support the café, email Mark and find out how you can get involved and make a difference this festive season.
Dates for your diary
12th December 2017
3:30pm-6:30pm
19th December 2017
Homewise Community Christmas Dinner
1pm-6pm
26th December 2017
12:30pm-4:30pm (bookings essential, food served 12:30pm-2:30pm)
Please note: Spaces are limited for special events; advanced booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Follow the Empty Plate Café on Facebook for further details and updates.
*Opening times may vary. December opening hours are 8:30am-12pm Wednesdays only at this time.