Peterborough church cafe helps feed hungry hospital patients on other side of the world

Thanks to a team of volunteer bakers and café staff, including students from Marshfields special education school in Peterborough, the café at St John the Baptist Church in Cathedral Square has helped thousands of people in the UK and overseas since it began serving tea and cake to shoppers many years ago.

An annual donation to Peterborough-based charity The Leprosy Mission from St John the Baptist church café this year has fed and nourished vulnerable patients at The Leprosy Mission’s Anandaban Hospital in Nepal.

The hospital, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, was asked by the Government of Nepal to set up an isolation ward to care for coronavirus patients.

Tragically teams across The Leprosy Mission’s hospitals are struggling to feed patients the most basic meals as their already stretched budgets are at breaking point because of the extra care and resources needed to cope with the Covid-19 crisis.

Peter Waddup, National Director of The Leprosy Mission, based in Orton Goldhay, said: “It seems fitting that while people are no longer able to enjoy a cuppa and cake in Peterborough, their previous generosity and that of the amazing volunteer staff team at the café has enabled hungry people in Nepal to be fed.

“We are so grateful to the people of Peterborough for again helping us to reach out some of the world’s most vulnerable people when they need it the very most.”

To help feed hospital patients in the world’s poorest communities visit leprosymission.org.uk