Restaurant boss helps Tributeis paidtoallof ourheroes feed vulnerable people
The Covid-19 crisis has led to innovative changes in the way third sector and community support services are being delivered.
That includes teams delivering food parcels and prescriptions, to those manning phone lines and engaging in online interactions, and all those working hard behind the scenes organising funding, arranging new partnerships and sharing skills and resources.
And Nancy Barr, the chair of Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLAN), paid tribute to them all
She said: “We pay tribute to all third sector organisations, community groups and the army of local volunteers who have put their shoulder to the wheel to help those most affected by the issues around Covid-19.
“There is a wealth of experience within these groups of people and an amazing heart to try to make sure that no-one is left to fend for themselves in difficult circumstances and that normal services are delivered, even if it’s in a different way.
“South Lanarkshire is blessed with a strong group of third sector community and voluntary organisations and we say a huge thank you and well done to all.”
Information on the organisations operating the area can be found on VASLAN’S web site.
A Hamilton restaurant owner has served up thousands of meals to vulnerable members of the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
Emma Allan, of Bothwell, was forced to temporarily close the doors to her popular Rocca restaurant under government guidelines as Covid-19 took hold.
But realising that members of the community and Hamilton District Foodbank were in desperate need of supplies, the restaurateur and her head chef, Ann Goodfellow, started to bake bread to help narrow the gap.
This led to Emma and Ann, along with a skeleton staff, to make over 2000 meals in the last few weeks for various community groups that are assisting individuals, families, hospital staff, care homes, police and social work referrals and for those within St Andrew’s Hospice.
Emma, who was brought up in Hamilton, explained: “We started baking bread for Hamilton District Foodbank in March when there was panic buying and shortages, and over the past eight weeks we have adapted and undeniably expanded our efforts as best we can to help the local community wherever practical.
“We then realised that we had to do more and could see that people needed help, so we came up with Rocca Real Meals as I call them.
“The free lunch and dinner meals are being delivered to our most vulnerable, including social services and police referrals across Hamilton but including Motherwell, Bothwell, Uddingston and Viewpark also as a need arose, and we felt compelled to help to provide these nutritious meals to essential NHS hospital staff across Lanarkshire, local care homes, social work and police referrals and St Andrew’s Hospice too.”
Emma, who sadly lost an aunt to coronavirus at Easter time, has also been delivering care packages to people who are in self-isolation.
She continued: “Last week alone we produced 417 meals in three days, this week 577 meals in five days, and the days we are not cooking we are supporting the foodbanks, the Covid Warriors, and the Bothwell and Uddingston
Community Action Group in whatever ways we can – as well as delivering care packages to those in need also. It is a lot of hard work but is very rewarding being able to help members of our community at such a trying time.
“And a huge thank you to Ann for supporting my vision and efforts throughout. I run the seven-day-a-week voluntary commitment at present but couldn’t do any of it without head chef Ann’s support, as well as the others in the team whom have worked in challenging circumstances and social distanced at all times to do this.”