Mum of three from Bourne offers free hot meals on Facebook

A crisis helpline responder has become the helping hand of the community, providing hot meals to those who need them.

Bea Maskery, from Bourne, has filled the bellies of almost 100 people in the town since she started offering free homemade food back in January.

Whether it is tuna pasta bake, casserole and mash, or cheesy jacket potatoes with salad, the mum-of-three always makes enough to share.

“It’s just a nice thing to do,” she said.

“So many people are struggling these days, and I have three young children who I cook for every day anyway, so I always do loads of extras and then advertise them out.”

Bea’s good deeds are well-received on Facebook, with her posts often getting hundreds of reactions. It as comes figures reveal thousands of children are living in poverty in the county.

“Every single meal is gone within about 10 minutes and people are always so grateful,” she added.

“I never ask for their circumstances. I just say that if they feel like they need the meal it’s theirs.

“I don’t need a reason as to why, if you feel like you need it then that’s good enough for me.”

Working in the mental health sector, Bea has seen first-hand the difference a friendly gesture can make to people’s lives.

“I am a huge supporter of mental health support,” she said.

“I struggle myself, so I am very aware that food is an integral part of taking care of your mind and feeling good about yourself.”

Bea takes care to make sure each meal is packed with amino acids often found in milk, fish, meat, cheese eggs, beans and lentils.

Amino acids are essential for the production of dopamine in the brain, which is the hormone responsible for happiness.

For those who can’t get to her, Bea, who says she is part of a low-income household herself, offers to deliver locally.

“There is a statistic out there which says that lower-income households are less likely to drive or have access to public transport, so I always say that I am able to deliver locally and quite a lot of the time people want that, which is absolutely fine.”

But the good deeds don’t stop there, as Bea and her wife Aisha run a charity called The Always Enough Campaign, which aims to promote positive mental health in the area.

Setting an example for her children and other people in the community, Bea has inspired a few others to give out free meals too.

“I think if everybody did it, Bourne would be an amazing place,” she added.

“Life can be really hard sometimes, and playing a part by giving a helping hand to those who need it, makes you feel like an active part of society.

“Something that may not mean so much to you, could mean everything to someone else.”