80 meals a day to help vulnerable
A MUM of four is cooking 80 meals a day from her family kitchen to help elderly and vulnerable people.
Kind-hearted Sophie Mears spends up to 10 hours a day batch-cooking for free food parcels to be delivered to those who cannot leave their homes.
Yet the 33-year-old’s generous effort almost fell at the first hurdle when council officials said she needed a food hygiene certificate – but that they could not visit to carry out an inspection because of coronavirus.
After some tears and pleading, plus a lot of hard work, she was able to pass a “virtual inspection”.
Sophie, who works in admin at a school, volunteered in Bridport, Dorset, after someone in her Facebook community group said a family was in need of a meal.
Emotional
Her crusade has now grown into a massive “meals on wheels” mission with a whole team behind her.
Someone goes through the messages on social media, her partner Gary bags meals and eight volunteers deliver the food.
Locals have donated food and money to help cover her costs making the soups, stews, chilli, lamb hotpot and cottage pie. She uses several slow cookers and finishes off the meals on the hob and in the oven.
Children Charlie and Connor, both nine, Jacob, eight, and Evelyn, four, get on with schoolwork or play quietly.
Sophie said: “My kitchen is just a normal family kitchen. My garage has turned into a storage area with a couple of fridges and a chest freezer. People have been amazing, donating all sorts.
“I’ve worked in catering in pubs and restaurants and I always enjoyed cooking.
“I registered with the council but they couldn’t come out to inspect my kitchen.
“I got really emotional and was crying on the phone. But they were amazing.
“I spent a day filling out paperwork, doing my hygiene certificate and taking pictures of my kitchen. Now I have a food hygiene rating of 5.”
And Sophie added: “The support has just been unbelievable.”