Community meals service for elderly and vulnerable people to be launched in Chesterfield and north Derbyshire

Elderly people, vulnerable residents and carers will benefit from the launch of a community meals service.
Mita Dash, Joanna Tomek, Shruti Vispute,  Sharan Sembhi and Lauren Haslam have volunteered their help for the new community meals service.Mita Dash, Joanna Tomek, Shruti Vispute,  Sharan Sembhi and Lauren Haslam have volunteered their help for the new community meals service.
Mita Dash, Joanna Tomek, Shruti Vispute, Sharan Sembhi and Lauren Haslam have volunteered their help for the new community meals service.

Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Asian Association is launching the intiative in mid-July and plans to initially deliver 50 meals a day, three times a week.

Packed meals will delivered by volunteers to people living in Chesterfield, Hasland, Grassmoor, Hady and others within a feasible radius such as Old Brampton and Calow.

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Sushri Wells, secretary and trustee, said: “Saffron Kitchen is a new venture. We have for some time seen a need in the community for a mid-day meal delivery service for elderly and vulnerable people and carers. The difficult circumstances we are now facing from the pandemic have added urgency to get it up and running.

“We know from our own membership that there is a demand and supplemented this data with a survey in the wider community.”

The service, which will be available to all who meet the criteria, has been made possible by awards of £21,866 from Big Lottery’s Reaching Community Fund and £500 from Tesco’s Bags for Life as well as support from Rural Action Derbyshire’s Feeding Derbyshire programme.

Sushri said: “The objective is to offer good quality, nutritious and attractive meals at an affordable price. Some referred clients will receive free meals.

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“We will ask clients to order in advance either by email or telephone. There will be choices for each day and we plan to offer light meals eg soup, salad and bread or a full hot meal eg curry with rice and salad or pasta with salad.”

Volunteers, including Sanjay Sen, Chris Wells, Moneek Sembhi, Mita Dash, Joanna Tomek, Shruti Vispute, Sharan Sembhi and Lauren Haslam will deliver meals prepared in the association’s kitchen at Penmore Business Centre in Hasland.

Depending on demand, the thrice-weekly service could be expanded. Sushri said: “We want to be confident that we can satisfy orders. Increase could come by four or five days per week or increasing our daily production or both.”

To register an interest, email: [email protected] or call Sushri on 07876617050 or Shruti on 07551896392.