Food4Heroes achieve 10,000 meals for KGH staff
A Food4Heroes scheme to support Kettering General Hospital during the coronavirus emergency has successfully delivered 10,000 meals to its staff in less than a month.
The idea for a local branch of the national Food4Heroes initiative came from local businesswomen Kate Toller, of Sudborough, and Wendy de Capell Brooke, of Corby.
It was immediately enthusiastically supported by their friends Stuart and Holly East, landlords of The Old White Hart pub in Lyddington, and same day couriers Route1Express of Northampton – with other local companies and individuals joining as the idea developed.
The first deliveries went to the hospital on April 6 and by May 6 the scheme had produced and delivered more than 10,000 meals for hundreds of KGH staff – at a rate of 300-400 meals per day.
Wendy de Capell Brooke said: “This started as way for us to bring the local community together to support the NHS staff who are doing so much for local people during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It has really blossomed since then and we have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of companies and individuals who have been keen to support us and take the idea on from strength to strength.”
Others supporting Food4Heroes locally have been Debbie Groome from Butterfly Crafts, of Woodford, (cakemaking), Sheffield based Keylink have donated the chocolate to make the cakes, Ady Pendred, a sign writer from Islip, is providing signs to support the effort, Joe Cornes from Becketts Foods providing labelling, Dev Brahmachari-from Display UK, part of the Smurfit Kappa Group, providing boxes, Higham Ferrers based Gallarwood Catering (now producing an extra 100 meals per day for the initiative), online and marketing support from PR agency, Athene Communications.
Lucy Gow, one of the organiser for Food4Heroes locally, said: “We have been amazed and delighted by the support for the idea and it has expanded so quickly we have now passed the 10,000 meals mark and plan to continue to provide the service for as long as it is needed.”
Holly East, from The Old White Hart, said: “We have been working very hard to provide a varied menu and the feedback from staff at the hospital has been amazing – so many messages of thanks from so many different kinds of staff who are all so important in the battle against this disease.”
The meals are delivered to the hospital and then distributed either direct to wards dealing with Covid patients, to make it easier for them to collect, or staff are able to pick them up at the beginning or end of their shift.
KGH’s #We Care Team Leader Jayne Chambers said: “Our staff have been so grateful for this service. Having a meal ready to go after a long shift is just amazing – one thing less to worry about. The meals themselves have also been fantastic, great freshly cooked meals of all kinds, including vegetarian food, that staff have all commented on being delicious and something to look forward to. “
KGH Chief People Officer Mark Smith said: “We cannot thank the whole team involved in Food4Heroes for KGH enough. They are supporting our efforts at a very difficult time for all of us and are a very practical demonstration of the local community’s support for the staff of this hospital.”
People wanting to donate can do so through the web-page https://www.athene-communications.co.uk/food-4-heroes-kettering/
Anyone who wants to support the Food4Heroes effort at KGH can contact Lucy on lucygow@food4heroes.co.uk
To support the hospital in any other way contact #We Care Team Leader Jayne Chambers on jaynechambers@nhs.net