Hundreds queue for weekly Coventry street feeds

[dutchman]

Sky Blue Support has been feeding residents in Willenhall and Hillfields for a year



Hundreds of residents are turning up every weekend for street feeds in Coventry.

Coventry resident Sunny Braitch told CoventryLive his non-profit organisation Sky Blue Support is feeding hundreds of people every weekend.

Set up one year ago, Sky Blue Support helps the homeless around the city with food, and vulnerable people too with hot food stands and house drop-offs.

They are now a growing movement, helping anyone that needs it with their weekly feeds in Willenhall and Hillfields.

Founder Sunny Braitch told CoventryLive that they have been busier than ever, with hungry residents queuing "around the block" for a free hot meal.

"Originally we started off in Hillfields. There are quite a few street homeless people. We knew there were people struggling," he said.

"We literally had queues and queues of people in the snows and rain, queues round the block to get the food, with Willenhall again, we were speaking to a few people, and some people are struggling there, so there was a need there as well."

Established in February 2021, founder Sunny Braitch describes Sky Blue Support as "not a charity, but just a group of people who love to help people and are self supported."

Mr Braitch works at the local hospital and as a delivery driver, and spends every weekend with his team of volunteers running the street feeds.

"As part of my culture as a Sikh, we believe in something called Seva, selfless work, if you go to a Sikh temple you'll get a hot meal no questions asked."

He said they have been supported by the local Asda, Tesco and Morrisons, and that they plan to expand and help even more people after a busy first year.

Volunteers cook all the food, which is usually curry, samosas, pasta dishes, and includes donations from the local chip shop.

"It's been a challenge, we've had a few volunteers come and go, we've always made sure we have a team out each week, one in Willenhall one in Hillfields. What we also do is if we can't get out there. I will go out my way to drop stuff off to shelters."

Around 50 to 100 people are fed every weekend through Sky Blue Support, with surplus given to the local homeless shelters, meaning the organisation helps hundreds each week.

In terms of the kinds of people that come to Sky Blue Support feeds, Mr Braitch said: "From the pictures you can see the wide range of people, someone could literally be passing on the way through to town and might have forgotten lunch, we ask no questions, we provide service to absolutely anyone, police officers, street sweepers, anyone that comes by, we support."

Sky Blue Support are looking to expand and are fundraising for a van.

They are also appealing for volunteers, donations: Sbs.skyblue@gmail.com, by calling Sunny 07881980922, or searching for Sky Blue Support on Facebook and Instagram.

[dutchman]

I've a feeling there'll be a lot more mouths to feed soon?