Appeal launched for trades help for Launch Coffee Shop

Launch Foods a community interest company that is changing to become a charity, has announced that in just 38 weeks it has provided 40,000 free meals to feed Glasgow’s primary school children that need it most, with the support of some big brands including Skypark, one of Scotland’s premier business locations in Glasgow, that has provided accommodation for food preparation at the business destination.

Launch Foods  is appealing to tradesmen to donate an hour of practical help to get its Launch Coffee Shop in Bothwell Street up and running.

The Launch Food truck is providing in excess of 300 meals a day to primary school children, operating 365 days a year. As well as providing for children during term time, Launch Foods works alongside Achieve More during school holidays to provide children with their lunches.

Craig Johnson who runs Launch, said: “We’ve achieved a lot in 38 weeks thanks to Hermes Investment Management at Skypark for our donated unit, alongside support from Brakes Group, Simon Howie Foods, Highland Spring, Braehead Foods, SEC and IKEA. They are all helping to feed Glasgow’s children.

“Every day hunger is a massive issue for children and families in many areas of Glasgow. Launch sets out to solve the issue of food surplus going to waste, throughout the year including school holidays to try to plug the gap. Every day, children spend their evenings hungry without a proper meal and the situation gets worse over summer with the absence of school meals. Meanwhile, food producers throw away surplus food and now we’re connecting the two working with big brands to change this.”

Surplus food is obtained from food suppliers from which Launch creates a menu of delicious treats that children love. Scottish children were consulted on the types of food they would like to eat and all food on the menu is healthy, packed with (sneakily hidden) vegetables, and is low in fat and salt.  Launch makes healthy ketchup and all of the packaging is compostable and biodegradable.

Skypark’s Strategic Lettings Advisor, Angela Higgins of Resonance Capital said: “Hermes Investment Management have kindly allowed Skypark to donate space to Launch Foods to provide practical support to get the organisation up and running and we are working on including them within our community fundraising efforts with a Launch breakfast service for tenants coming soon. We would encourage our tenants to get behind Launch that is doing so much to feed Glasgow’s children.”

Stephen Ellis, Senior Asset Manager at Hermes Investment Management, the £33.5 billion fund manager behind Skypark, added:  “Hermes Investment Management are happy to be a part of this fundamental service which helps ensure children in Glasgow have a healthy meal, even during the school holidays.”

If anyone feels they would like to contribute to feed children in Glasgow by either fundraising or giving an hour of practical or trades help with the fit out of Launch Coffee, please get in touch by emailing: craig@launchfoods.org.

Visit www.launchfoods.org to see who is involved.

To donate directly to Launch Foods and help to feed Glasgow’s children please visit their Go Fund Me page HERE.