This festive season, Riverside Foods proudly partnered with the Booth Centre in Manchester to support their annual Community Christmas Lunch. The Booth Centre, a remarkable non-profit organisation working to support individuals impacted by homelessness, reached out to us via their Community Kitchen Coordinator, Clare McElhatton, with a special request: halal turkeys to ensure the meal could be inclusive for all.
Donating to the Booth Centre Manchester
Clare enquired about halal turkey, and after discussing her needs with our team, we were delighted to donate 60kg of turkey ballotines and 6 whole turkeys, far exceeding her expectations. These generous provisions not only ensured an inclusive and delicious Christmas meal but also provided food supplies that will extend well into January – a crucial bonus for the centre’s efforts.
Clare expressed her gratitude during our visit, sharing her ambition to make this Christmas bigger and better than ever, while maintaining their commitment to providing halal meat as standard. Her passion and dedication were inspiring. She also discussed the possibility of collaborating on future donations of surplus stock, ensuring that their Community Kitchen continues to thrive.
As Deputy CEO Kate McSweeney said:
“The Booth Centre welcomes everyone. Our inclusive community offers a place to belong, to feel valued, and to thrive. Together we are stronger.”
We delivered the donation personally during our Christmas visits in Manchester and were struck by the warmth and community spirit the Booth Centre embodies. While photos inside the centre weren’t allowed for privacy reasons, we captured moments outside to mark this special partnership.
A word from our MD, Leigh
Leigh Morris, MD of Riverside Foods said:
“This donation truly means a lot to me personally and to all of us at Riverside Foods. We’ve always believed that food has the power to bring people together, and no one should feel excluded during the festive season, especially not due to cultural or dietary needs. It’s upsetting to think of people facing homelessness, feeling like they don’t belong during a time of celebration. That’s why we put our heart and soul into making sure everyone feels included—because inclusion is what the festive spirit is all about.
Over the past 40 years, we’ve been fortunate to support many incredible charities, and every time we give back, it reaffirms why we do what we do. It’s not just about providing food—it’s about providing dignity, connection, and hope. Knowing that the Booth Centre’s community will be enjoying our products this Christmas fills me with gratitude. We stand by the quality of everything we produce, and it’s a privilege to know that even more people will get to share a meal they can truly enjoy.”
At Riverside Foods, we’re honoured to play a small part in supporting such meaningful work and helping to create an inclusive and joyful Christmas for all.
