Actor David Morrissey was joined by chef Melissa Hemsley to collect unsold surplus food from Fortnum & Mason’s famous Piccadilly store to redistribute to people in need this Christmas.
The pair joined other volunteers for food charity The Felix Project on Christmas Eve to pick up supplies from the luxury store and the Daylesford Organic Farmshop on Pimlico Road.
The food was then delivered to charity the Black Prince Trust in Lambeth to be shared out among the community for Christmas.
In 2023 The Felix Project have rescued over 13,000 tonnes of food - enough to fill Big Ben from bottom to top ten times. This has been delivered to over 1000 charities and schools around London, where it’s been used to make around 31 million nutritious meals.
The Felix Project works with hundreds of suppliers from across the food industry like Amazon, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Able & Cole, Natoora, Hello Fresh and even farms such as HE Hall & Sons who partnered with the charity in 2023 to help rescue 105 tonnes of apples, pears and plums from their orchard in Kent to redistribute to charities and community organisations in London.
Walking Dead star Morrissey and food writer and sustainability champion Hemsley are long-standing volunteers for The Felix Project, and joined the charity’s Relationship Manager Marcus Roberts to help out.
Morrissey said: “I have so much respect and admiration for the essential work that The Felix Project do. The deliveries of fresh, healthy, top quality food they provide on a daily basis, are a real lifeline to thousands of communities across London. It’s an honour to be able to help out on Christmas Eve with Marcus and Melissa, ‘‘tis the season to give back after all.”
Hemsley said: “I adore The Felix Project. It’s such a fantastic organisation that’s really making such a huge positive impact to so many people from all walks of life. I love volunteering with them, it’s a real joy to be out in the van helping with the deliveries, especially at Christmas.”
Richard Joyce, CEO of Black Prince Trust said: “The twice weekly donations we receive from The Felix Project are so important to our community, and over Christmas being able to support people who really need it is more important than ever. Though our hub closes over the Christmas break, we continue to open to distribute food because for so many people hardship does not stop for festivities. We are so grateful that The Felix Project don’t just continue to support us and our community but redouble their efforts. The Christmas Eve donation is a wonderful gesture from The Felix Project and their partners and on behalf of the people who benefit we really cannot thank them enough.”
Fortnum and Mason CEO Tom Athron said: At this time of year our partnership with the Felix Project is more important than ever. Not only is it an opportunity to reflect on the fun we have with all the Felix team during the year as our people volunteer at the depots across London during the year, but its also a moment to share some of the fabulous food we stock with those most in need. Felix – we salute you and everything your legacy achieves.”
