Windsor charity provides hot food to key workers

Police, bin collectors, NHS staff and other key staff flocked to the food trailer at Alexandra Gardens car park during their breaks to get a hotdog with onions and perhaps a hot drink while providing critical services.

The meals were prepared by Tiia Stephens, the founder of Driven Forward, a Windsor organisation which was set up in 2018 and provides user led trips via minibus to places such as shopping centres for the elderly, vulnerable and socially isolated.

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The trailer, which was bought from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council by Driven Forward, was originally going to open on April 6 as a community hub for wellbeing activities and to give people who access food banks lunch every Sunday.

It instead opened on Monday as a small takeaway for key workers to grab a quick hot snack until the public health crisis ends.

They also prepare and provide hot food for the homeless as well as delivering packed meals to them by the police and community wardens

Tiia Stephens, who quit her job as a community warden to focus on her charity work, said: “I had this fantastic facility with a kitchen and I thought of what the police, doctors and nurses and other workers are doing?

“And where are they going to get hot food and a hot drink? Because they’re working on the frontlines during all this.”

She added: “The key workers are doing a really amazing job in keeping everybody in the community safe and working in uncertain times, putting their own health and safety at risk.

“This is my way of saying thank you.”

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If you’re a hungry key worker passing through Windsor, the big white trailer can be found next to the duck boats at Alexandra Gardens car park and is open from Monday – Fridays at 9am – 4:30pm.

A suggested donation will be set if anyone wants to donate to the charity.