This story was first shared during our Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 campaign. Two years later, the message remains just as important. Too many families are still relying on projects like The Open Kitchen to get through tough times.

Fighting Hunger in Nottingham

Hunger can feel invisible, but in Nottingham, it is a daily reality for many families. At The Open Kitchen, Manager Imran Khan and his team are determined to change that, ensuring that no one has to face Christmas hungry or alone.

“Everything you see on the shelves behind me, the bread, milk, snacks, fruit, tins of food, all of it comes from FareShare,” Imran explains. “They were the first organisation we got in touch with. Without them, none of this would be possible.”

Adam’s Story: Finding Relief at The Open Kitchen

For Adam, his partner Kelly, and their young son, The Open Kitchen has been more than a source of food. It has been a source of hope.

“The amount of homeless people around the city centre has got a lot worse these past few years,” Adam shares. “People are starving. Some days, the only hot food my lad was getting was from here. They helped us out big time.”

Imran knows the family well. “Adam and Kelly have been coming in for a while,” he says. “They’ve been through a lot, and their little boy too. What we’re doing here isn’t just about handing out food. It’s about helping families through the hardest moments of their lives.”

More Than Food: A Place of Hope

This is why FareShare Midlands exists, to ensure that good food reaches the people who need it most, instead of going to waste.

“So many of the people we support would ordinarily go hungry,” says Simone Connolly, CEO of FareShare Midlands. “They certainly wouldn’t be eating the good food that we source. The work of places like The Open Kitchen shows exactly why our mission matters. It is about making sure families don’t just survive, but that they can share in the joy and comfort of a meal together. That is what brings hope to the table.”

Adam reflects on how much this means. “I’ve got a roof over my head and a locked door between me and the outside world. But there are so many people who don’t even have that. They have to live day to day, eat day to day. And it just doesn’t work.”