Records broken as support for charity continues to grow
For the past 18 months, a mobile soup kitchen charity in Leeds has been serving up warm meals to those most vulnerable in the city and now, following a hugely successful fundraising event this month, even more dishes can be prepared.
The InTouch Foundation was first established in Bradford and expanded across West Yorkshire as the need for such services was realised by the charity’s founders.
Earlier this month, the first InTouch family fun evening took place in Leeds, with almost 200 visitors heading down to Headingley’s Cardigan Centre to browse endless stalls and raise money for charity.
From henna to face-painting, food stalls to clothes, and even threading and massages, there was something for every person, who together helped raise £1,200 for the charity.
Leeds co-ordinator, Fawziyah Javed, organised the event and said she never expected so many people to attend.
“In the build up to the event we had 140 tickets printed and all of them were sold,” she said. “We even had people coming down after this so there were around 200 in total.
“There were points in the build up where I was thinking, ‘what if only five people turn up’, but everyone pulled together and made the event a huge success.
“We had stall holders from as far away as Oldham and Bolton come down on the day and a big thank you goes out to all the sponsors and volunteers for their incredible efforts.”
100 per cent of the proceeds from the event will go directly to the InTouch Foundation to help provide hot meals and drinks in Leeds every Tuesday evening.
Last week, the team of volunteers broke their own record for dishes served in one night with over one hundred meals handed out.
Fawziyah adds: “Last Tuesday we served 109 people their meals and it is only through word of mouth and events like the family fun evening that we can raise awareness.
“The InTouch Foundation feeds the needy and those who are most vulnerable in society. The work carried out by our amazing volunteers is truly appreciated and I look forward to seeing the charity continue to grow.”
The Leeds InTouch volunteers gather every Tuesday at Oxford Row in the city centre from 6.30pm until 8pm.
