Local charity funds ‘full stomachs’ for staff
We talk to Idris Patel, CEO of Supporting Humanity, about his recent donations of food for NHS staff across Barts Heath to support them during the coronavirus pandemic.
Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Idris, I’m currently a Product Manager for BT and a qualified coach in various sports, having played sports at a very high level previously. I am also CEO of Supporting Humanity, a charity set up by myself and four colleagues in Stratford to support, uplift and empower people facing a variety of challenges, including problems with mental health, dealing with the loss of a loved one, and people with disabilities who don’t have access to adequate care. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing challenges gets the support and respect they deserve.
Why did you set up Supporting Humanity?
Myself and and four friends came together after we saw that not everyone was getting the help they needed and we wanted to bring our local community together to see what we could do to help. We’re also lucky enough to have the help of 100 volunteers to get donations out to where they need to be. Growing up my mum has always driven me to ask not how others can help me but how I can help others. And so setting up the charity seemed like the easiest thing in the world. We work with local schools and youth clubs to offer support to vulnerable children and young adults, funding things like drug addictions services and counselling. We also fund care services to improve support for the elderly who may not be able to access the right kind of care. All in all, we wanted to help people who need it most.
Why did you decide to donate food to staff?
When the coronavirus pandemic broke it was clear we needed to do more to support NHS staff during this incredibly difficult time. My motto has always been that the key to a person’s happiness (and heart!) is through their stomach. And there’s nothing like a full stomach of nutritious and delicious food to fuel staff through their long and arduous shifts. Our aim was to deliver 1,000 meals to staff every day for 30 days but we have now surpassed that delivering 1,800 meals every day to NHS staff and key workers across the NHS!
One of my most precious memories of the NHS is the birth of my three daughters. The care we had from NHS staff during each of these momentous occasions was truly outstanding. Both my mother and my sister broke their wrists not so long ago and we were all overwhelmingly happy with the care they received at our local hospitals Whipps Cross and Newham Hospital. So giving back to staff in this way is fulfilling in more ways than one.
I’d like to end by saying a very sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to all NHS staff and key workers for the wonderful things you’re doing to look after people during this challenging time. You are making such a difference to this world and you should all be so incredibly proud.
One of things staff repeatedly say to us when we deliver food is that we sure know how to make people smile. As a result our hashtag is
#YouKnowHowToMakePeopleSmile and it’s not just a motto, it’s a lifestyle!