CO-FOUNDERS OF BABY FOOD BRAND, TOM POM ORGANIC, RUN 10K TO HELP FIGHT HUNGER IN THE UK

Kari Sherman and Dr Andy Pullen, co-founders of allergy-friendly baby food brand Tom Pom Organic, took part in the Hampton Court Palace 10k run recently to raise money for FareShare UK.

FareShare UK is the biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste in the UK by re-distributing good food that would otherwise go to waste to almost 11,000 frontline charities nationwide to pass on to people at risk of hunger.

Kari said: “We wanted to take part in the run to raise money for FareShare knowing that, this winter, it’s expected more people than ever will need support getting basic food and essentials. With the flu and Covid19 challenging the food distribution network, FareShare needs all the extra support it can get.”

Because of the pandemic, FareShare has doubled the amount of food given to vulnerable people, who might otherwise not eat, from one million meals to two million meals every week. At the peak of the Covid-19 crisis to date, FareShare was distributing enough food for over three million meals a week.

“A donation to FareShare of just £5 helps deliver enough food for 20 meals,” explained Kari. “I am thrilled to say that Andy and I managed to raise enough money to fund over 2,800 meals!”

The Hampton Court Palace 10k run, which is the only 10k event to be held at this famous and historic royal home, took place in November. 

Kari said: “It was a beautiful, brisk day and the run along the River Thames to Kingston and then through Deer Park back to Hampton Court Palace was amazing. There was a steel band playing, lots of cheerful supporters along the way and a huge mix of participants including enthusiastic runners, an elderly gentleman dressed as King Henry VIII and a woman celebrating her 59^th birthday!”

Surrey-based, Tom Pom Organic, was launched in late 2020 by Kari Sherman after she had struggled to find suitable food for her second son, Tommy – nicknamed Tom Pom. At nine months old, Tommy was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, particularly to nuts and dairy.

Together with her partner, Andy, a GP, Kari created a range of frozen baby food based on NHS dietary guidelines that would satisfy a baby’s nutritional needs, taste buds, and be safe for little ones with food allergies.

Tom Pom Organic currently offers hand-made purées and meals frozen into rings, so that they can be enjoyed frozen as a teether or defrosted as a meal or snack. They are healthy, nutritious, allergy-friendly and minimally processed. Tom Pom Organic food is hand-made in small batch production and uses the same simple processes that you do at home. So when parents don’t have the time to make their baby’s meals, Tom Pom Organic is there – freshly frozen, fun mealtime rings. 

Currently Tom Pom Organic can supply to all London and Surrey postcodes and they donate one per cent of all sales to FareShare UK.  The brand has plans to expand in 2022. For more information visit www.tompomorganic.com

Donations to FareShare, that help to fund the running of food delivery vans and PPE to keep volunteers safe, can be made via the link: www.fareshare.org.uk.