Meet the Ripon 'superwoman' who's transforming lives with her healthy meal plans
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Families feeling the pinch due to financial struggles are often forced to make difficult choices.
For some, that means choosing between putting food on the table or heating their homes.
And so, in 2019 the remarkable Helen Mackenzie embarked on a mission to transform the lives of struggling families by providing them with the necessary food to sustain basic living.
Today, she is revered as a 'superwoman', having positively influenced the lives of over 45 families.
Ah, but that’s not all—she’s also teaching them how to make healthy meals at home.
'I didn't want to be a soup kitchen,' Helen said.
'I wanted families to get back to the basics, cook themselves, prep with the kids so that everyone was involved in making the meal and it wasn't just mum's job.'
Her signature scheme, 'Back to Basics', takes an innovative approach—not only does she provide fresh ingredients to those in need, but she also hands out free recipe cards for cooking healthy meals, thus educating families on how to maintain a nutritious diet.
Helen’s project currently supports 14 families, which includes 48 adults and children.
She said that while the city of Ripon may appear as an affluent cathedral city, there are many families struggling to fight the current cost of living crisis.
'I am seeing first-hand families choosing do they eat or do they heat?' Helen said.
'I've seen them sitting at a meal table with hats, scarves and gloves on and blankets around their legs—it absolutely breaks my heart.'
One recipient of Mackenzie's support, a thankful single mum, spoke about the immense relief it brought her family during turbulent times.
'It was at least one meal a week I didn't have to think about, one meal we didn't have to plan around and figure out what we were cooking,' the mum said.
'We were always given enough to make more than one meal.'
The 37-year-old mum also articulated the challenges of choosing healthy food options at supermarkets due to cost variations between fresh produce and processed food, saying 'it's more expensive to buy apples than doughnuts'.
Mackenzie has even expanded her service to provide a Christmas meal, lending more families the ability to route funds towards winter home heating.
A mark of her influence and impact, the single mother has now progressed past needing aid and has chosen to give back to repay Helen’s support.
'I have offered to donate a Christmas dinner this year because I know that Helen's had four extra families over the last few weeks,' the mum shared.
'Helen's a superwoman, I wonder how she does it sometimes.'
Helen shared that for some families she supports, fresh fruit is already considered a treat.
'I think sometimes we can't just even fathom it,' she said.
'My fruit bowl is always full.'
Helen sources most of the food packages from businesses in their town of Ripon, in the UK.
Some of these local businesses include seafood supplier TMR Foods, vegetable trader Brian Murphy, and even the local Morrisons supermarket regularly donates close to sell-by products. Wensleydale Creamery is also known to help Helen out.
Tony Rushton, owner of TMR Foods, shared that over the years, they have donated ingredients for fish cakes and pies or fresh fish like seabass and salmon.
'Fish is always seen as a luxury but it's a very good and healthy option,' Tony said.
When asked why he supported the project he answered: 'It's all about helping the local community and it's about [families] cooking healthy meals as opposed to buying processed supermarket meals.'
Going above and beyond her food supply work, Helen also collects and distributes donations of white goods and furniture.
Despite helping around 45 families over the years, Helen believes the most significant barrier for people is garnering the courage to ask for help. Through her initiative, she's committed to extending a helping hand to anyone who takes that bold step.
'I know it's really hard,' Helen said.
'If people have the nerve to ask for help—because that's quite daunting—I'll help.
'I'd never turn anybody away.’
Members, what are your thoughts on Helen’s work? Do you know of Aussie examples of pure service to others and compassion?
Let us know in the comments below!
For some, that means choosing between putting food on the table or heating their homes.
And so, in 2019 the remarkable Helen Mackenzie embarked on a mission to transform the lives of struggling families by providing them with the necessary food to sustain basic living.
Today, she is revered as a 'superwoman', having positively influenced the lives of over 45 families.
Ah, but that’s not all—she’s also teaching them how to make healthy meals at home.
'I didn't want to be a soup kitchen,' Helen said.
'I wanted families to get back to the basics, cook themselves, prep with the kids so that everyone was involved in making the meal and it wasn't just mum's job.'
Helen Mackenzie started her 'Back to Basics' project to help those in need in Ripon. Image source: Facebook/Helen Mackenzie.
Her signature scheme, 'Back to Basics', takes an innovative approach—not only does she provide fresh ingredients to those in need, but she also hands out free recipe cards for cooking healthy meals, thus educating families on how to maintain a nutritious diet.
Helen’s project currently supports 14 families, which includes 48 adults and children.
She said that while the city of Ripon may appear as an affluent cathedral city, there are many families struggling to fight the current cost of living crisis.
'I am seeing first-hand families choosing do they eat or do they heat?' Helen said.
'I've seen them sitting at a meal table with hats, scarves and gloves on and blankets around their legs—it absolutely breaks my heart.'
One recipient of Mackenzie's support, a thankful single mum, spoke about the immense relief it brought her family during turbulent times.
'It was at least one meal a week I didn't have to think about, one meal we didn't have to plan around and figure out what we were cooking,' the mum said.
'We were always given enough to make more than one meal.'
The 37-year-old mum also articulated the challenges of choosing healthy food options at supermarkets due to cost variations between fresh produce and processed food, saying 'it's more expensive to buy apples than doughnuts'.
Mackenzie has even expanded her service to provide a Christmas meal, lending more families the ability to route funds towards winter home heating.
A mark of her influence and impact, the single mother has now progressed past needing aid and has chosen to give back to repay Helen’s support.
'I have offered to donate a Christmas dinner this year because I know that Helen's had four extra families over the last few weeks,' the mum shared.
'Helen's a superwoman, I wonder how she does it sometimes.'
Helen shared that for some families she supports, fresh fruit is already considered a treat.
'I think sometimes we can't just even fathom it,' she said.
'My fruit bowl is always full.'
Helen sources most of the food packages from businesses in their town of Ripon, in the UK.
Some of these local businesses include seafood supplier TMR Foods, vegetable trader Brian Murphy, and even the local Morrisons supermarket regularly donates close to sell-by products. Wensleydale Creamery is also known to help Helen out.
Tony Rushton, owner of TMR Foods, shared that over the years, they have donated ingredients for fish cakes and pies or fresh fish like seabass and salmon.
'Fish is always seen as a luxury but it's a very good and healthy option,' Tony said.
When asked why he supported the project he answered: 'It's all about helping the local community and it's about [families] cooking healthy meals as opposed to buying processed supermarket meals.'
Going above and beyond her food supply work, Helen also collects and distributes donations of white goods and furniture.
Despite helping around 45 families over the years, Helen believes the most significant barrier for people is garnering the courage to ask for help. Through her initiative, she's committed to extending a helping hand to anyone who takes that bold step.
'I know it's really hard,' Helen said.
'If people have the nerve to ask for help—because that's quite daunting—I'll help.
'I'd never turn anybody away.’
Let us know in the comments below!
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