Local restaurant uses food stock to supply hospital staff in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick
This week’s Saturday Shout Out goes to The Barn Kitchen in Binley, which has been helping out NHS staff by preparing and delivering meals to hospital staff in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick.
Known for its themed afternoon teas and home-cooked meals, the popular restaurant has now been forced to cease normal trading due to the lockdown. But rather than allowing existing stock to perish, restaurant owner Kelly Iles made the decision to use it up on making meals for NHS staff in local hospitals.
Since the lockdown began, Kelly and her team have delivered over 35,000 meals, and their amazing efforts have been warmly received by NHS workers, who have spoken of the positive impact it has been having on their wards. Often, hospital staff are working long and difficult shifts, and struggle to make the time to go out and get food, so these deliveries can make a big difference.
With the opening of the Nightingale Hospital in Birmingham, they had hoped to extend their services to the staff based there, but a dwindling food supply and financial resources have prevented this from happening so far. Kelly is eager to keep feeding the front line, but has already used up her own stock and funds to pay for meals, and with rent to pay and no government support, this is becoming increasingly challenging, with the fate of the business potentially hanging in the balance.
That’s why the team are calling for donations, both of food from suppliers and of money from anyone who feels able to give. If you would like to support their efforts, you can do so by making a donation online via their JustGiving page, which is currently at 92% of its initial £5000 target, or visit The Barn Kitchen website or Facebook page for more information.
