"I'm scared it's going to disappear" admitted a mum-of-nine, as she tucked in to a warm three-course-meal with her 11-year-old son at a community kitchen in Leeds.
Sarah Maiden and her son, Kyle, were just two of the 25 adults and 6 children dining at Beeston Food Cycle on Wednesday evening, a project set up to help hungry and lonely locals.
Like many, Sarah is faced with the difficulty of feeding a large family with a stretched budget as the cost of living crisis continues to affect every household across the UK.
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The struggling single mum, who has children with disabilities that she cares for full-time, found out about Food Cycle when she saw a leaflet after heading to her local community centre to collect a food parcel.
Food Cycle is a place where everyone, from families like Sarah and Kyle, to pensioners in need of someone to talk to, are all welcome to enjoy a free starter, main and dessert - regardless of their situation. While some guests rely on the project to stay fed, others visit solely to meet new people in their community.
Sarah told Leeds Live: "I've been coming weekly for about five or six weeks now, it's like a respite for me because nobody does anything for me at home. I was really shocked the first time we came, the food is really nice, it's something I'd be happy to pay for and we always get to take some home too.
Along with the dishes made from donated supermarket surplus stock, guests are encourage to bring a big to take home leftovers, some of the items they get regularly include bread products, tins, cakes and chocolate. The project, which opened in Beeston in April, runs from 6.30pm on Wednesdays and aims to provide relief to locals.
Sarah added: "It's a massive stress relief, I'm scared it's going to disappear or they're going to stop doing it. I found it by chance really when I came for a food parcel, nobody tells you about the help that is out there. I've been really struggling recently, it's hard to feed such a large family.
"I'd definitely be in a worried state without places like this, the rising costs have definitely made us appreciate food more.
When asked whether he likes coming to Food Cycle, Sarah's son Kyle said: "The meals are really nice, I had pasta last week and a curry the week before, my mum always tells me to eat all my food when we come here."
One elderly guest, Peter, who is retired and lives alone, explained how he comes for the social aspect but also it helps him to minimise his living costs at home. He said: "I come for the company it's nice and warm and I get a nice and nutritious meal too.
"It's good, I like it, I've been coming most weeks, it's become a bit of a lifeline for me. I can turn my heating off while I'm here so that helps too because I'm on a tight budget."
73-year-old widow Irene, who comes for similar reasons, said: "It's absolutely wonderful, I can't praise it enough, the food is lovely, the staff are so friendly and you never feel awkward or uncomfortable coming here. More than anything, it's just a really nice community and I enjoy coming to see my new friends."
To find out more, and if there is a Food Cycle near you, click here.
Have you been affected by the cost of living crisis? You can contact us by emailing megan.shaw@reachplc.com
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