A vital service launched during the Covid pandemic is set to serve more meals for vulnerable people aged over 50.
Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire's ‘Meals at Home’ service was set up in 2020 to provide older people with a meal delivered to their home.
The service, which has the capacity to dish out up to 100 meals a day, provides a varied set menu of good, old-fashioned wholesome food.
The two-course menu options include pork chops, mash and veg and mince and dumplings and sticky toffee pudding and chocolate sponge and custard as well as Sunday lunches with all the trimmings.
Meals at Home is offered seven days a week between 12.30pm and 2pm for only £7.50 a day.
A team of dedicated volunteers deliver the meals daily to many of the region's most in need older people.
It provides a lifeline to not only those older people living alone but also directly to more social settings such as day care centres.
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The volunteers provide a vital social connection to often lonely or isolated people too.
One volunteer, Kevin Phillips, has delivered meals to residents in the area for the past three years, including through the lockdowns.
Kevin said: "I’ve been a volunteer driver for Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire since we started the meals at home service.
"It's become a vital lifeline for many people in the local area who perhaps struggle to make a nourishing meal for themselves.
“Many people who live alone can become isolated and I think the service provides that connection that they may otherwise lack.
"I really enjoy being a volunteer driver and love meeting new customers."
The half dozen strong team of delivery volunteers deliver the wholesome meals, while the food is cooked up by three full time cooks backed up by volunteer kitchen assistants.
Helen Hunter, chief executive of Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire, said: “Our Meals at Home service provides an invaluable facility to many people in the community.
"While it was set up during the difficult times of the pandemic, many people have come to rely on it to provide them with a home cooked meal.
"Those older people living alone, possibly widowed, who perhaps do not feel like cooking for themselves, place real value on this.
"The social and wellbeing benefits cannot be underestimated. We also have many couples who enjoy the meals on a regular basis.
Ms Hunter added: “I’m pleased to say that we can offer up to 100 meals a day in the community at reasonable prices; something which is particularly important during the current cost of living crisis.
"I’d like to thank our dedicated volunteers for making this possible and look forward to providing this vital lifeline for many years to come.”
Meals can be ordered up to 11am on the day of delivery. To order, please call: 01325 741 492.
The charity is currently looking for volunteer drivers to help deliver the meals.
If you can spare a few hours, even if just occasionally, call 0300 30 20 100 to find out more.
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