How a 92–year–old refugee inspired a movement to feed those living in poverty
The typical fayre of Halloween was distinctly absent today at London’s Borough Market. Instead, over 200 people were busy toiling away chopping, peeling, stirring and frying 1000 meals for people living in poverty and in need of a nutritious meal in the London area.
The journey of Wok For 1000 started almost two years ago, when Chef Jeremy Pang was inspired to take action after learning about Plan Zheroes co-founder Lotti Henely’s story of poverty and extreme hunger during her time at a displaced persons camp following the end of World War II.
Born Princess Windisch-Graetz in 1925 into a wealthy Austrian landowning family, Lotti Henely was sent to the Northern Italian front during WWII nursing soldiers wounded in battle. At the end of the war, Lotti and her sister were sent to an American displaced persons camp. The Russians took over and conditions became exceptionally bad. They had no water and were fed only thin soup once or twice a day. At 92, Lotti still clearly recalls how she battled hunger as a refugee and it’s these memories which have powered her ambition to feed the hungry ever since.
“I was so hungry, I can remember sucking stones to fool my stomach that it was full” Lotti says “We used to use big belts wrapped tightly around our waists to help ease the hunger pains.”
Once released from the camp, Lotti walked some 145km from Munich to Salzburg. She bartered shoes and other essentials for food, and also begged at farms. No one had food to spare and she was often turned away hungry. After re-joining her family in Italy, Lotti began nursing again and helped to distribute leftover hospital food to queues of refugees every evening. This is where her passion for ensuring no-one goes hungry began.
Following her marriage to a British Army Officer, Lotti moved to the UK. Driven by her own experience of hunger, and seeing all the good food being thrown away by shops, restaurants and cafes, Lotti proposed a project to rescue this food and get it to people in need. Joining forces with several other volunteers at her local Church, they set to work on this project and Plan Zheroes – The Zero Food Waste Heroes was born in 2009.
Today, Plan Zheroes works with over 200 businesses to help re-distribute food to those who need it most. The team at Borough Market have been working with Plan Zheroes as a contributor and their strong connection to the cause led them to hosting today’s event.
“Reducing food waste and tackling food poverty is at the heart of Borough Market’s operation and over the last few years, through our partnership with Plan Zheroes, surplus food from stalls has been donated to charities, creating tens of thousands of meals to feed those who really need it.” Says Claire, one of Borough Market’s Trustees “The buzz and energy of today’s Wok for 1000 event was palpable – what a fantastic opportunity for people to come together and cook under Borough Market’s roof and then share these dishes with the wider community.”
The ambition of Wok For 1000 was not only to make 1000 meals for the homeless or those living in poverty, but to raise awareness with the help of local businesses of the increasing problem of malnutrition in London and throughout the UK.
“I was so moved by Lotti’s story” says Jeremy Pang, “it really brought home how much we have as a Nation, and yet how many people are still in need of a nutritious meal.”
Following a meeting with Lotti, the School of Wok Co-Founder, (an Asian cooking school in Covent Garden), set out to create an event unlike any other to help raise money, awareness and donate nutritious meals all under one roof.
“Sharing has always been at the heart of Asian cooking and as a Chef, I am no stranger to making large quantities of food! We simply had to find a way of marrying this with the right facilities and volunteers in London” Jeremy comments, “We were really fortunate that Borough Market wanted to help and has hosted the event every year so far. It’s a great space, their connection to Plan Zheroes makes it so fitting for what we are trying to achieve.”
Armed with a team of 20 volunteers and over 180 people from businesses throughout London who have paid to participate as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility plans, Wok For 1000 continues to grow from strength to strength. Following a hectic morning cooking 3 different recipes, the 1000 meals cooked today were successfully and swiftly packed up and sent to a variety of London charities through the Plan Zheroes network.
Laura Hopper, CEO of the charity Plan Zheroes, said, ’’We are incredibly grateful to the School of Wok for organising this fantastic event which supports not only our work, but the work of our partner organisations who are tackling homelessness, poverty and isolation.”
The success and legacy of Wok For 1000 has led School of Wok to incorporate CSR programs for businesses as part of their regular corporate class offering. During a team building event at their school in Covent Garden, participants not only learn new skills, cook and eat a meal with their colleagues, the ingredients are doubled so they also make meals for the homeless in the process.
WHO IT BENEFITS – planzheroes.org
All profits from the event will be donated to charity Plan Zheroes – The Zero Food Waste Heroes. Plan Zheroes runs a free online platform where businesses can connect with local charities and post donations of their surplus food online. Over 200 businesses and 200 charities have joined the platform, which currently helps to re-distribute 3-5 tonnes per month of good quality surplus food (the equivalent of 6-10,000 meals per month). The charity also runs weekly and twice weekly food collections at four London food markets, including the iconic Borough Market.
WHY WOK FOR 1000
Following on from the success of the school’s first Wok for 1000 in 2016, Jeremy Pang and his team of expert chefs from London’s very own School of Wok are hoping to emphasise both the need of corporate social responsibility and the difference one person can make in one event on 31st October. At least 1000 meals will be created, delivered and distributed across the capital to local charities and community groups and Jeremy will be encouraging those watching over the social media live feed to follow along and cook at home. Those inspired by the event can also donate or volunteer for Plan Zheroes or one of their partner charities, details for which will be posted on the School of Wok facebook page.
