A WhatsApp group has quietly bought tens of thousands of meals for homeless and vulnerable people across the UK, using the Wetherspoon's pub chain app. The initiative is an offshoot of a larger Facebook community called Wetherspoon's: The Game!, where members buy drinks for one another.
How the Group Works
The original Facebook group has over 800,000 members who buy drinks for strangers using the Wetherspoon's app, which allows orders from any location. The WhatsApp group, founded by Chris Illman, extends this concept to food and non-alcoholic drinks for those in need. Nearly 700 members respond in real time to requests from hungry people sitting in Wetherspoon's pubs across the country.
To request a meal, a homeless or vulnerable person contacts the group's admins via the Facebook page with their location and meal request, accompanied by a photo to verify they are in the pub. An admin anonymizes the request and posts it to the WhatsApp group, where donors claim it by specifying what they will order. There are no thank-yous or photos; the process is swift and discreet.
Impact on Individuals
Carl, a former pub owner who became homeless after bankruptcy, relies on the group to maintain contact with his daughters. He video-calls them from a Wetherspoon's, with a meal and drink in shot to appear normal. "This group has literally been a lifesaver," he said, his voice breaking. "It means I can feel normal, like I'm a part of society again."
The group handles a couple of requests daily, but during school holidays, 20 to 30 families may need help. Illman recently polled the community on whether to limit requests; the unanimous response was that anyone needing help every day should receive it.
Mass Meal Drops and Charity
Since 2018, the group has bought tens of thousands of meals and hundreds of thousands of snacks. In June, it will hold its 60th mass meal drop in Scotland, where members buy meals in bulk through the app, collected by volunteers and delivered to charities. A 2024 event in Liverpool distributed 300 burgers and cans in 20 minutes, bringing together seven charities that continue to collaborate.
Maria, a foster carer who has experienced homelessness, donates weekly through the app. "It really makes a difference to feel I'm part of a community that wants to do this for complete strangers," she said.
With at least 382,000 homeless people in England and 14 million struggling to afford food, the group offers a lifeline. Illman has never advertised the initiative, but word has spread. "It's never failed yet. Not once," he said. "People are so quick that you have to move fast if you want to donate."
