Caring circle serves up its 2,000th meal
HMR Circle celebrated delivering its 2,000th meal as part of its dinner drivers service for elderly borough residents.
The group runs services such, sports and crafts groups and a digital support service for older people in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.
On Tuesday, April 12 the group delivered their 2,000th meal to resident June, who has been ordering meals with the service since it began a year ago.
Chef Ken and volunteer driver Allan presented June with a box of Celebrations to mark the milestone.
The meal was a cheese and onion tart with a cheese, leek and mushroom sauce with a side of croquette potatoes and herb buttered cabbage.
Pudding was a chocolate fudge slice, with cinnamon cream, chocolate sprinkles and blueberries.
HMR Circle director Mark Wynn said: “When we first started we did it as a test to see if there was any demand and we had to work out the logistics and June was one of the experimental cohort that helped us out with that, and she has stuck with the programme.
“It’s not just the meals, they have a chat with the drivers who drop them off so they enjoy that part of it. It’s like a social event and it’s a treat.
“It’s the sort of thing that they wouldn’t make on their own.”
The Circle deliver 50 meals a week, thanks to help of Chef Ken, an army veteran, staff and volunteers as well as the drivers. Drivers currently deliver to the areas of Kirkholt, Balderstone, Turf Hill, Queensway, Kingsway, Firgrove, Milnrow, Newhey, Norden, Falinge, Spotland, Shawclough, Bamford and have now added Hurstead to the list.
Mark said that delivering quality, healthy meals was essential to the service.
“It’s not what you’d traditionally associate with meals on wheels, which is normally like a meat and two veg kind of meal,” he said.
“When we started we were still in lockdown so we were conscious of getting nice nutritious healthy meals to people, but not for it to be bland.
“The food was good quality, food you would buy off a menu in a pub or restaurant it wasn’t just very basic, we put a lot of effort into the meals. It’s gone really well and we get good feedback.” Mark added that the group is always on the lookout for volunteers for all its programmes, including the dinner drivers service.
“We’re always on the lookout for volunteers, especially new drivers. If you’re interested in having a meal, give us a call,” said Mark.
To contact HMR Circle call 0800 112 3440.
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