Hot meals for elderly
Community rallies round
More than 70 elderly people in Fernhill are tucking into a hot evening meal every Thursday, thanks to a partnership between volunteers and a Cambuslang pub.
Although the weekly drop of 70 food bags in Fernhill came to an end last week after five months, tireless volunteers have replaced them with hot dinners, served up by Legends Sports Bar owner, Alex McDowalls, staff member Cheryl O’Neil and other members of the team.
The meals, which include everything from mince ‘n’ tatties and steak pie, to fish suppers and pasta, are then delivered to people’s homes by a team of community volunteers.
It’s the latest initiative from bighearted members of the Fernhill community to ensure that elderly and vulnerable people in the local area have the staples they need.
Their efforts have also made sure that those who have had to isolate during lockdown can still have some social interaction. Community activist Davy O’Neil says he’s been touched by how locals have rallied.
“I am amazed at the way it all came together, and the work they put in has been unbelievable,” he said.
“We probably pulled in donations of over £4000. There was a guy in Wales who sent £500 and the local Rangers bus gave £500.
“But it was the £20 and £50 given here and there by local people that really kept it going, with some folk giving weekly.”
The food bags initiative started when Fernhill footballers of all ages made a donation to fund 10 food banks for local pensioners.
This escalated, until around 70 elderly people were receiving a pack of food and essentials every week.
Big hearted Benny Carey stepped in to spray local shops with sanitiser to keep staff and customers safe, while Fernhill Grocers donated 10 bags, and donations were also received from Asda Toryglen and Tesco Burnside.
St Bride’s Church also helped with food, while locals in Galloway held a socially distanced bingo session, donating proceeds to the pensioners.
Davy’s thanks go to Tesco’s Annemarie Rayburn for preparing bags for collection, to his wife Linda for sorting food packs and coordinating weekly deliveries, and to fellow delivery drivers Tam Mackay, Billy Hepburn, Diane Colquhoun and Dawn Fellows.
Councillor Margaret Cowie was instrumental in leveraging funding that enabled the Legends meals on wheels initiative get off the ground.”
“Hopefully when things get back to near normal, the OAPs will get to all their clubs and maybe new members will join now,” said Davy.
“They’ve been telling me most weeks that isolation was having the biggest effect on them, as many live alone. If any good comes out of this, I hope we encourage them to try get out and join the local groups.
“Without a doubt, this has brought a big part of Fernhill together. I take my hat off to all involved, so take a bow, Fernhill. You are simply the best.”