INSPIRATIONAL staff and volunteers at a Caerleon mobile fish and chip shop have provided over 1,000 free meals to vulnerable residents in the town since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With the help of volunteers, owners and couple Glenn Stanley and Fiona Harwood, who started delivering the meals to the over-70s in March, are still doing 150 free meals a week.
Mr Stanley said they were only able to provide the meals thanks to staff at Ye Olde Bull Inn, who – when it was announced they would have to close – let out their car park to Mr Stanley and Ms Harwood free of charge.
“We started doing around 50 meals a week and it just grew and grew,” said Mr Stanley.
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The couple’s role in the community can’t be understated either, with many older residents saying that they are the only people they’ve had contact with in weeks.
They’re now getting 200 requests for meals a week.
Glenn Stanley
“It means a lot to me,” said Mr Stanley. “I am Caerleon born and bred. To see the look on their face when we come and deliver is brilliant.”
The couple, like most small businesses, have fallen on hard times after the cancellation of the Epsom Derby and Ascot – two huge events in the calendar for them financially.
“We aren’t making any money at the moment really – just enough to tide us over, but it’s not about that at the moment. We’re in a crisis and we wanted to do our bit,” he added.
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