Jewish caterer answers Marcus Rashford’s call, providing 300 free school meals

A Jewish caterer in Radlett  has answered footballer Marcus Rashford’s call to help feed children during the school holidays by providing 300 meals.

Adam Nathan Catering has provided around 300 meals to families in need over the four days since the company’s offer was made last Thursday.

“It is a great example of what a community can do when everyone comes together”, says Adam Nathan, who was inspired to help follow Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals to be provided over the school holidays.

Supplying each family with meals for the entire week, Mr Nathan’s company delivered food all over London, to Croydon, Sutton, Enfield, Highgate, Wembley, Watford and more.

“We are fortunate that we have the infrastructure to cook a lot in a short amount of time. Our chef volunteered his time and my parents were even boxing up food”, said Mr Nathan, whose company provided meals for NHS staff at the start of the pandemic.

Fellow catering companies have also reached out to offer him help in delivering food. “It shows what a fantastic industry the hospitality is”, said Mr Nathan. “It has not been an easy year and still the first thought is to help other people where we can.”

“Parts of the country have been let down and you can either stand around and moan or do something to help out, and we decided to help.”

Mr Nathan’s help comes as more than 40 rabbis from across the community and over 100 individuals have written to Boris Johnson, urging him to extend free school meals for schoolchildren living in poverty.

The letter, initiated by the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE), expresses concern at the disproportionate impact of poverty on black and minority ethnic communities, where nearly twice as many children (46%) live in poverty as those in white communities (26%).

Rabbi David Mason, one of the signatories said: “I and many in my community have admiration for Marcus Rashford’s campaign. My desire to support this campaign issues from Jewish values of Tzedakah [charity] and Chesed [kindness]”.

Dr Edie Friedman, Executive Director of JCORE, added: “It is vitally important that we add a Jewish voice to this important campaign and we are delighted to see the support our letter has received.”

The letter also cites Jewish tradition as placing a high premium on affording people dignity and living a life free from poverty, which they say is seen as an abomination that no child or family should have to face.