Caring Portsmouth Fratton Tesco staff take time out to dish up meal for Somers Town community

Tesco staff took time out to cook up a three-course meal at King’s Church, in Somers Town, to ensure people weren’t left hungry.

Families were treated to potato skins with cheese, onion and peppers as a starter.

Then the main course was a comforting vegetable pie with cheesy mash, followed by a caramelised banana pie.

The community kitchen was manned by staff from the Fratton Park Tesco store, who stepped in to help FoodCycle, the charity which normally runs the scheme.

The Fratton Tesco superstore donates a proportion of food that doesn’t get sold to different charities, including FoodCycle.

Sally Noice, Fratton Tesco service manager, said: ‘It’s about being part of the community and bringing people together.

‘It’s also promoting healthy wellbeing.

‘This is something that’s quite close to our hearts.’

About 40 people were treated to the free food spread last night.

Margaret Jacobs, of Ladywood House, in Plymouth Street, enjoyed going along to spend time with others.

She said: ‘My relatives don’t know that I come along on my own accord.

‘I get to meet my friends here, it’s nice to chat.

‘It helps people have good food, and stops people from feeling lonely.’

Fratton Tesco community champion Gemma Morrison was all smiles as she helped to dish up the food.

She said: ‘This means a lot to me. We donate surplus food but we wanted it to be more than just giving food.

‘We wanted to give up our time to help others.

‘It’s a big task and FoodCycle rely on the volunteers.’

People queued up outside the church before the doors were opened at 6pm.

Bananas and bread were laid out for people to enjoy first.

FoodCycle also holds a free community dinner on Tuesday nights for people in need at John Pounds Centre, in Portsea.