The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Souper scheme to help simmer doon
A grandmother’s love has inspired one Angus volunteer to help locals to “simmer doon” during the pandemic.
In a scheme which has already received generous community support and a quick uptake from vulnerable families, Teresa Sharp from Montrose has put together bags containing all the ingredients to make a hearty pot of broth – with pictures and instructions to encourage children to learn the skill.
Nail technician Teresa has been volunteering with Voluntary Action Angus but came up with the idea of the “simmer doon soup bags” after thinking back to time spent with her gran Emma Bessie Alsop when growing up in Eastbourne on England’s south coast.
Teresa said: “She lived until she was 87 and although she died almost 20 years ago, I was wondering what she would have made of this situation and what she would have done and the first thing would have been to make a pot of soup.
“Feeding her family wholesome, home cooked, nutritious and locallysourced food would have been so important to her and there are a lot of hungry tummies out there just now.
“It would also have been important that the whole family be included. I remember standing on a stool washing vegetables from an early age.”
The Montrose YM building has been pressed into action as distribution point for the soup bags.
“Absolutely everything has been donated from local farmers and businesses. I’m very conscious that it’s a tough time for our farmers, but they have been so supportive,” she said.
“It has really taken off and we have also had great support from Rossie Young People’s Trust.
“The YM Mohub will be the main pick-up point for people if they would like to collect during daily exercise, but for the socially isolated our volunteers are able to deliver within Montrose.”