Ruby (12) gets busy baking for Meals and Wheels
LOCAL girl Ruby Hartford was busy in the kitchen recently cooking up some delicious bathces of scones for the Duleek Meals on Wheels Service. THE 12-year-oldwanted to do something to help the service as her own granddad, who sadly passed away last year, used to get meals from the Meals on Wheels and loved his weekly treats and a chat with those who provided the service.
Ruby and her friend Leah Moore, who both play for Duleek Bellewstown Gaelic team, decided do some baking for the 20 recipients of the service each week.
‘I wanted to do something to help because my granddad really enjoyed getting the meals, it meant a lot to him, and he loved the chats with the people who delivered them,’ explained Ruby. The Duleek Girls NS student also included a cuppa soup and a letter about herself with each hamper of scones was thrilled to receive a number of responses.
‘I didn’t think many of them would write back but they did, they were really interesting to read. I have them in my drawer and I’m going to keep them.’
Her Mum Julie added: ‘She really likes baking. I had a big birthday a couple of weeks ago and she got up specially to make me scones and they were fabulous. It wasn’t just here, her friend Leah Moore did it as well, so they baked on different days.
‘She was aware of the Meals on Wheels because he granddad used to get them and one day she asked if she could bake for them. She likes doing it and we’re going to try and do it once a week.
‘Quite a few people sent back letters and she got a great buzz out of that.’
SHE revealed Ruby has also taken up photography during the lockdown and Mother and Daughter have a friendly compettition going every day to see who can take the best picture.
The temporary Meals on Wheels Service was started by Senator Sharon Keogan and a band of volunteers and sponsors after a number of services in local areas were forced to stop when the lockdown came into place as those running the services included people on CE schemes and many over 70s.
‘Unfortunately a number of Meals on Wheels were stepped down in Slane, Julianstown and Duleek and we had to find a solution to the problem. We are now serving 20 people three times a week and we’re very lucky the Duleek Development Association allowed us to use their kitchen. It was something that was so badly needed,’ said Sharon.
Michelle Lawless volunteered to help out with the temporary service and takes part in the deliveries while her friend Shirley cooks all the meals. ‘It keeps us busy and they absolutely love to see you coming and have the chats,’ said Michelle. ‘As long as you can make somebody smile that’s my job done for the day.’