The ESS Energy team have prepared and delivered 7,500 meals for charities supporting those in need this Christmas. Led by Culinary Director Graham Singer, the volunteers cooked, packed and distributed a selection of meals comprising:
• Macaroni cheese with selected vegetables
• Roast chicken with pigs in blankets, potatoes, carrots, peas and gravy
• Chicken tikka masala
• Vegetarian dhal stew
• Chilli con carne
• Pork Wellington with roast potatoes and vegetables
• Pork nasi goreng
• Barbeque chicken with savoury potatoes
Recipients will be given a meal pack containing each of the dishes that will feed them for several days over Christmas.
Additionally, over 570kg of fresh produce has been donated to the Aberdeen Homeless Service for their charity kitchens.
The team are also providing a range of hampers containing Christmas confectionary, festive selection boxes, Christmas cake and staple food items of soups, pasta, cooking sauces, rice, biscuits, tea, coffee and ambient ready meals.
The initiative has been supported by donations from ESS supply partners Lomond Foods, JW Gray & Co, Riso Gallo S.p.A, Strachans Ltd, Benzies of Turriff and Harthill Hospitality of Oyne and ESS client Ithaca Energy, along with Compass’ procurement business Foodbuy.
The team are proud to be able to help with the fantastic work of the following organisations this Christmas:
• Bo’Ness Food Pantry – A community food pantry that accepts donations from local businesses and individuals which a network of volunteers distributes in food parcels around the local community.
• Stonehaven Fetteresso Church – Far & wide charity supporting the community of Stonehaven.
• Churches in Aberdeen.
• Churches and charities in the East Kilbride area.
• Sheltered housing for the elderly.
• Local community centres where meals will be available for collection.
• The out of hours Homeless Service run by Aberdeen City Council.
• Anyone who is encountering hardship this year due to the cost of living or other difficult circumstances.
Debbie Dionne, a representative of the Homeless Service, commented:
“The donations that we receive from ESS at Christmas are appreciated more than you know. We are working alongside people experiencing homelessness where they struggle financially and often rely on food banks. The lovely meals that are donated are a welcome treat at what can be quite a lonely time of year for people. Last year when we were handing out the meals, everyone was so grateful and the feedback we got was amazing, including comments like “so tasty, what a lovely treat” and “it was like having a takeaway only tastier, a real treat.” ESS is doing wonderful things for the people who are most in need at this time of year and that has to be celebrated.”
Graham added:
“I’m proud of what our team and our suppliers have achieved yet again this year. We are delighted to be supporting our local communities with meals and treats and hope that they will bring some Christmas cheer to the beneficiaries. Thanks to everyone who has contributed their time and to our suppliers for their generosity in the donation of ingredients - this really is a team effort.”
