Cafe offers free meals to over 70s isolated by coronavirus in Sleaford while village communities pull together

A Sleaford cafe and bistro has decided to offer free meals delivered to over 70s living alone in the town who are isolating to protect themselves from coronavirus concerns.
Mesut Palabiyik of Tablez cafe and bistro in Sleaford - offering free meals delivered to isolated over 70s in town.Mesut Palabiyik of Tablez cafe and bistro in Sleaford - offering free meals delivered to isolated over 70s in town.
Mesut Palabiyik of Tablez cafe and bistro in Sleaford - offering free meals delivered to isolated over 70s in town.

Tablez Cafe and Bistro in Millstream Square made the announcement earlier today (Wednesday) and have been applauded by many for their public-spirited offer.

Owner Mesut Palabiyik said: "As we have many customers, who have supported us regularly over the last three years, we have decided to show our appreciation by offering any of our customers over the age of 70 who live alone, free meals delivered to their doors.

"This will start as soon as we get our delivery service up and running in the next few days. So if you know anyone living alone, 70 years old and over please contact us and we will sort their meal out."

Zoe Ireland of Ruskington.Zoe Ireland of Ruskington.
Zoe Ireland of Ruskington.

He explained they are currently putting together a plan to offer a delivery service throughout the period of coronavirus restrictions in an effort to counteract government advice for public to avoid pubs, restaurants and theatres to reduce the spread of the disease.

The business is working with advice from the government to do this in the most sanitary manner possible.

Mr Palabiyik, said: "We will be offering the full menu at no extra charge to be delivered in the Sleaford area. We are currently testing if certain menu options travel well (e.g. poached eggs, eggs Benedict) to ensure they do not over cook and spoil."

They will even be doing a special Mother’s Day service providing 'Breakfast in Bed', offering a multiple choice breakfast from the Mother’s Day menu for 2 to 8 people. For two people the menu will include two breakfast dishes, two pancake or waffle dishes, a scone with clotted cream and jam to share and two hot beverages for £30.

Mr Palabiyik added: "We are also considering the idea of doing the same delivery for a Mother’s Day roast lunch for those who can’t come out. Watch this space as we will announce a full menu delivery service soon."

Other Sleaford restaurants are following suit and striking up a delivery service, including the Italian Connection in Market Place.

Also, from today, McDonald's will be limiting its restaurants, including the one at Holdingham to takeaway, drive through and delivery only. Payments will be contactless to avoid contact between customers and staff. "In these unprecedented times, our restaurants will continue to remain open for as long as it is safe to do so," the company stated on itswebsites and social media.

Meanwhile many more Sleaford area communities are pulling together to support those in most need at this time.

The Nocton Hub community centre has decided to help coordinate a local help scheme matching local volunteers to those who are isolating. Volunteers whod want to get involved helping fellow Nocton residents with items of shopping and meals where necessary were asked to get in touch to coordinate names and contact details.

They have produced a flyer for Nocton residents as well as a process to manage requests for support. Volunteers offering to help have been asked to complete a form via the hub's Facebook page: https://forms.gle/uoVZpwFXBHFwoGUZ9 . It is to capture some essential information only and information will not be shared.

If you are in need or know of anybody isolated and in need (especially those not on social media) over the coming weeks let the hub know and they will do a letter drop letting them know details and offer support.

The organisers say: "This way we can have a single unified village response which can be efficient for both volunteers and those in need. We will need to ensure that volunteers follow approved government guidelines when delivering this assistance.

Another help scheme has been set up by the parish council in Heckington and in Ruskington the fantastic community response is being co-ordinated by Zoe Ireland, with support from businesses and parish councillors and parish and district council staff and the parish vehicle being provided for use when required.

Zoe said the network was only launch on Sunday in light of expected government advice to protect older and vulnerable residents.

She said since then she has had over 100 volunteers sign up to help. She said: "It is pretty incredible, with coverage across Ruskington as each volunteer says which streets they will cover and then leaflet that area with their name and contact details and what they can offer to help with for vulnerable members of the community."

Posters will be going up as well and they have arranged two donation centres at DC Baxters Motors and A and K Autos where people can drop off spare items of shopping which can be used by the volunteers if they cannot acquire all the essential items on the lists for people in isolation. There is also a care package for anyone in real financial need.

Zoe added: "We are also working with the pharmacy in Ruskington to bolster their prescription delivery service as they do not have the capacity to support everyone."

Zoe is a programme manager by day and felt she could use her organisational skills to great effect: "We have lots of people working behind the scenes doing printing and administrative support or letting us use their vans for deliveries - it has been an incredible response.

"We held our first meeting last night and had 40 volunteers and will meet again tonight. It has grown to such a big scale so quickly I am completely overwhelmed. We are advising people not to put themselves at risk, but it is why I want to live here and raise my children here. It is wonderful to see there is such a massive desire to help the most vulnerable in the community that we live in."

People wanting to help or needing help can get in touch through the Ruskington Community Watch Facebook group or via the parish council or use the contact details on the leaflets and posters.

Leasingham's Manor Farm Shop is also organising deliveries for isolated residents including food and meals from their newly opened cafe. The Duke of Wellington pub is also offering support. Further details will be appearing on Leasingham's Facebook community page.

Gill Burton from the Manor farm shop said: "We are experiencing high sales in the farm shop at the moment, but we are offering daily deliveries to those self isolating in the village. We can drop at their door and they can pay over the phone .

"We have just opened a new coffee shop and have teamed up with the Duke of Wellington pub to do hot meal deliveries to anyone that wants to order them on the same system."

She commented: "Strange times ahead but we will keep going as long as we possibly can, hopefully all the way through!"