Can you help Melksham Free Dining?

MELKSHAM Free Dining, which offers a free meal to locals on Wednesdays, is appealing for help to support their work. 

Whilst praising their team of volunteers for their ongoing help, the charity is also asking for help to raise money to support their work. 

“Melksham Free Dining at Bowerhill Village Hall is now well established with both regular diners and newcomers,” says trustee Louisa Lewis. “Our charity has been running since September and since then we have been the recipient of much generosity from the community and local businesses.   

“Generosity conjures up many pictures – the ever willing hands, kindness in many forms, through thought, word and deed and importantly giving of our precious time. The volunteers of Melksham Free Dining are enveloped in all these attributes and we know how lucky we are to have them. 

“There is also another form of generosity – financial – charities wouldn’t exist if it was not for the financial donations.  There are many ways of helping charities pay their bills, which in turn helps others and in our case, it directly helps the Melksham and Melksham Without community. 

“We want to continue with our Free Dining , bringing people together in a safe environment, reaching out to the vulnerable, lonely and those looking for friendship and support. We are a dining group, a social group and importantly, we also actively ensure the well-being of our diners.  

“Not everyone is able to volunteer – there are times when circumstances do not permit – but donating to our charity is equally important. It puts the dinners on the plates. If you are looking for a charity to support in 2022, please consider us. We would love to hear from you.” 

In an effort to raise funds Melksham Free Dining has organised two ongoing projects. 

Louisa explains, “Firstly, a little early I know, but we are preparing for our Easter table top sale (details to follow) – a slightly different table top sale as all the items will be NEW! We are collecting for the sale now and hope you may have some new items you may wish to donate .  

“How about those unwanted Christmas presents! We all have them! But they could be used to raise funds for this very worthwhile charity. We are open every Wednesday from 12.45pm to 2.45pm at Bowerhill Village Hall should you wish to drop off your gift.    

“Secondly, we would like to ask all business owners to allow us to put a ‘Melksham Free Dining’ contribution box on their counters so that customers may donate to our Wednesday free lunches. Local residents are so very generous and these donation boxes will give the community the opportunity to help each other.” 

If you would like to join us in these projects please call trustees Louisa Lewis on 01225 374232 or Deedee Macleod on 07967 123858.