Dennyloanhead eatery joins Takeaway Alliance to keep children fed during lockdown

A Dennyloanhead eatery has joined a collaborative initiative set up to ensure disadvantaged children don’t go hungry amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Millie’s Munchies is among a group of 50 venues in the UK that form the Takeaway Alliance.

Its owner, Lesley McKenzie, added her business to the growing list to offer free meals so youngsters don't miss out on vital school lunches while schools remain closed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

All parents have to do to receive a free meal for a child is enter the venue and ask ‘Is my auntie Trisha in?’

Lesley McKenzie, owner of Millie's Munchies in Dennyloanhead which is part of a takeaway alliance set up to keep children fed during lockdown. Picture: Michael Gillen.Lesley McKenzie, owner of Millie's Munchies in Dennyloanhead which is part of a takeaway alliance set up to keep children fed during lockdown. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Lesley McKenzie, owner of Millie's Munchies in Dennyloanhead which is part of a takeaway alliance set up to keep children fed during lockdown. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The initiative involves takeaways in Falkirk district, North Lanarkshire and Edinburgh, among other areas

Ms McKenzie said: “I feel it’s safer to have takeaways open. People rely on takeaways.

“It’s no longer just a treat to have a takeaway but the much safer option.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Order from a takeaway and you either get it delivered to your door and sometimes the delivery driver just leaves it on the doorstep and rings the bell so there isn’t even contact with the driver or put your order in, sit in your car or stand outside where there is plenty of social distancing then just take your food away when it’s ready.

“Takeaways couldn’t be more safe and, in my mind, essential. Now the Takeaway Alliance feels that it’s important to leave the takeaways open and running. We are a point, a central and almost disguised point for the children who need food.

“It’s a safe environment for a child to walk into and be fed without fuss. We aren’t politicians or social workers, we don’t take any private donations to feed kids – and the reason for that is to keep the fuss to a minimum.

“We don’t have to explain to anyone where their money would be going so it’s off our own backs. We need fuss to let the children know they are safe to come in and get food.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The country should be at a standstill to stop the spread of Covid but takeaways are essential for stopping the spread and for feeding the kids that need fed.”

To find out more information, contact the group on Facebook.

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

Related topics: