A pioneering project that provides healthy and nutritious food to thousands of local people is set to create more than 5,000 meals before Christmas.

The Palace Kitchen is the initiative of Crystal  Palace  Football Club and the Palace for Life Foundation. Club chefs have been preparing 350 meals a day, four days a week to reach the December target.

The club continues to work with Croydon Council to identify vulnerable individuals and families in the greatest need of support.

This will include those in emergency housing, the elderly, families and homeless people.

The club has committed to covering costs in December including purchasing fresh ingredients, staff costs of preparing the nutritious meals, safe packaging and labelling.

The meals will then be distributed by project partners City Harvest and Croydon Voluntary Action.

Additional donations from supporters to the Palace for Life Foundation are welcomed via Justgiving page www.justgiving.com/palacekitchen. Proceeds will help extend and expand the scheme through the winter.

Club Chairman Steve Parish said: “This is a cause close to our hearts, having previously partnered with our local food bank as well as homeless charity Crisis in recent years. With more than 16,500 Palace Kitchen meals delivered during the first lockdown we are aiming to deliver meals to as many people as we can between now and the new year. 

“It is a project that the whole club is getting behind – from the shareholders, to the players, staff, commercial partners – and I’m sure our supporters will also be keen to contribute, as they always do for such good causes, which will enable us to help more people in need, for longer.”