The Founders of the ‘One Million Meals’ Share How The Queen Inspired Them To Launch The Campaign That Served Hundreds of Thousands of Key Workers During The Pandemic.

Arif Anis, now a USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and a leadership expert who coaches top executives, shares how his life was inspired by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, along with celebrated foodpreneur Suleman Raza, who was bestowed an MBE for his humanitarian services by the Queen in June, 2022.

”When I fell sick during the lockdown in March 2020 with the Coronavirus symptoms, the ambulance crew visited to attend to me. I was shocked to see they were without the necessary protection equipment, complaining of the long shifts and having nothing to eat as restaurants were closed. Then came the historic and rare broadcast by the Queen on 5 April 2020 to rally the public in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.”

“We will meet again”. The Queen urged Britons to stay strong and it inspired us to create the 'One Million Meals' campaign with support from my foodpreneur friend Suleman Raza who understood the food supply chain and was already thinking of a similar endeavour. Suleman was the first one to make a major donation to get the campaign started”. Arif recollected.

”Like millions of others, we also watched the Queen's address in awe during the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. Her Majesty's words inspired us to launch the One Million Meals campaign. In that 5th of the rare televised address, the Queen praised Britain’s “national spirit” in facing the challenge of coronavirus as she evoked wartime memories to reassure those “feeling a painful sense of separation from their loved ones” to take comfort in the fact: “We will meet again. That just sounded like a battle cry in these dark times and it kept us going.” Suleman stated.

‘The figure of one million meals was chosen as a dare to stimulate British compassion in the face of adversity. I was already thinking of conceiving a campaign that could save the crippling food industry and uplift the spirits of the folks. We started approaching restaurants and organisation for partnerships and collaboration. The crisis needed a British response to it.’ Suleman Raza reminisced.

”However, we were flabbergasted when we received a letter from Her Majesty in July 2020, congratulating us for initiating the One Million Meals campaign that served hundreds of thousands of meals to the NHS staff and key workers. ” Suleman and Arif commented.

”Her Late Majesty was so kind that she first asked about my health as I suffered from the Coronavirus in early March 2020. And as we know of Her Majesty's keen sense of curiosity, the letter read, 'Her Majesty was interested to know you have been able to assist so many people this way”. Arif shared.

”I was absolutely touched; the whole team of volunteers was ecstatic. We felt so honoured and privileged”. Suleman said.

Till 30th June, the One Million Meals campaign managed to support 203 locations (NHS trusts, hospitals, agencies, and foodbanks) across the UK and served 47 NHS hospitals by delivering hundreds of thousands of meals and nutritious drinks to doctors, nurses, paramedics, key workers on the frontline risking their lives along with homeless and vulnerable people suffering at the hands of the pandemic.

David Beckham endorsed the One Million Meals campaign, and it made headlines. Later, the Proclaimers, the iconic Scottish duo, also donated their biggest hit song to the campaign. One Million Meals managed to stimulate British compassion with this diverse background and successfully served in collaboration with the restaurant, food, and beverage industry.

Suleman Raza was honoured by the Queen and made a Member of the Order of the British Empire at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June, 2022. His voluntary entity ‘Spice Village Uplyft’ also received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, which is the highest award for voluntary organisations in the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson awarded the One Million Meals campaign The Points of Light award. The Brain Trust awarded Arif with the 'The Brain of the Year' trophy in 2020. Arif Anis was awarded the Freedom of the City of London by the City of London Corporation and made a Freeman in April, 2022.

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information or an interview, please contact: Email: Arif@onemillionmeals.uk Telephone:07823557818

FOR FULL RELEASE & IMAGES GO TO: https://mediaselect.pa.media/the_one_million_meal_presser

Logo

Images

Tags

More Like This

From Flock to Fork: The Shepherd Campaigner Who Fed A Nation Gets a Royal Shout-Out!

The Chef Who Was Honoured Twice at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Laments For His Beloved Monarch

London based chef shares remarkable experience of being invited to the Queen’s state funeral

Human Appeal on the Way to One Million Hot Meals for Gaza

Mind The Dinner Gap: Sainsburys research reveals a lack of inspiration stops one in three Brits from eating healthy meals

Bitget Spreads Kindness This Ramadan by Providing 100,000 Meals to Those in Need

apetito’s ‘Shift for the Hungry’ donates 20,000 meals to Charity

UK celebrates unsung heroes and community champions in His Majesty The King's New Year Honours List