A BROMSGROVE pub restaurant is helping to provide free healthy meals for vulnerable people in the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chef Lorenzo Richards, from The Wildmoor Oak, has set up a takeaway service for customers during lockdown but also wanted to do something to help people who are struggling.

He seized on an initiative to recycle food from supermarkets and warehouses that would otherwise be destroyed.

Donating his time and passion for cooking, Lorenzo heads a team of around five staff volunteers who turn the raw ingredients into a variety of healthy dishes – including vegetarian and vegan options.

Dishes have included pasta bakes, fish in sauce and curries - with more than 300 meals produced every Tuesday in the kitchen at the Top Road pub in Wildmoor.

Lorenzo said: “We are proud to be able to make use of our restaurant facilities and culinary skills to help others who are struggling during the pandemic.

"Every year almost 2 million tonnes of surplus food is wasted by the UK food industry!

"This initiative helps stop this massive waste of food while having a positive impact on the local area by helping those in need.”

Lorenzo is working in partnership with FoodCycle in Longbridge, a national charity established in 2009, with a vision for a society where no one is hungry or lonely.

FoodCycle provides the ingredients and then collects the prepared meals each Wednesday from The Wildmoor Oak.

The meals are distributed to anyone in need, such as low-income families, asylum seekers and refugees, the elderly, and people dealing with mental health issues.

Lorenzo’s food has also been enjoyed by staff at West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Jody Beswick, from FoodCycle, said: “We would like to express a huge thank you for the effort Lorenzo and his team put in to support us with our food parcel service.

"Many people delay ordering their parcels as they are now aware that Wednesday and Thursday are ‘Lorenzo food day’ and we actually see an increase for parcels on these days.

"The volunteers get a buzz when the food arrives at our hub as they are eager to see what Lorenzo’s team have prepared.

"The Wildmoor Oak is bringing a bit of happiness to the people we try to help in these challenging times.”