Wrexham-based charity provides more meals for those in need through M&S app

A Wrexham-based charity has ramped up the number of meals it’s providing to those in need thanks to M&S’s food redistribution programme.

Social enterprise Dragon Dinners, is a hot meal delivery service created by Jodie Murphy and Nicola Charles-Paget last February.

As part of the M&S’s food redistribution programme an innovative colleague app, launched in March 2020 is used to notify charities when surplus food is available, helping to increase donations and stop food going to waste.

Since the app launch, M&S Wrexham has provided over 11,638 meals to the local community.

Jodie Murphy, Manager at Dragon Dinners in Wrexham, said, “At Dragon Dinners we are passionate about reducing waste and building stronger communities.

“The support we receive via the M&S Food Surplus initiative contributes to our Donation Dinners Programme – which helps to ensure that elderly and vulnerable individuals in our community receive a hearty hot meal.”

Emma Alley, store manager at M&S Wrexham said: “When we have surplus food our absolute priority is for it to end up on someone’s plate, through our charity redistribution programme with Neighbourly.

“We are thrilled that the app has already helped to make a difference to charities like Dragon Dinners who do such an incredible job in our local community.

“By providing charities with updates in real-time, they’re able to collect even more meals to feed the people they support and help us to prevent food going to waste.”

Since 2015, M&S stores have supported over 2,000 local causes nationwide, from food banks to youth clubs and hospices, donating over 21 million meals so far to those in need.

In partnership with Neighbourly, a platform that connects company funds, surplus and volunteer time with local causes to make a positive impact, the colleague app is now in all 585 M&S stores, enabling many of them to more than double their food redistribution rates.

Across the UK, more than ten million meals have been donated since 1st March 2020.

Local charity and community groups who would like to get involved in the food surplus programme or other charity initiatives are encouraged to email [email protected] to find out more.