Food parcels delivered to Walsall care homes
A community group handed out food parcels to a children's hospice and care home to lift staff morale during the coronavirus outbreak.
Sixty-five containers of vegetarian biryani curry and sweet rice were delivered to Parklands Court Nursing Home, Bloxwich, and 20 were delivered to Acorns Hospice, Walsall. The initiative was done to raise the morale of frontline health workers.
A number of residents have died with Covid-19 at the care home.
The initiative was organised through the Walsall Covid-19 Aid community response team. It is made up of a number of organisation including the Union of Muslim Organisations, Walsall, and St Gabriel's Church, Walsall, Age Matters and Accord.
Mohammed Arif, chairman of UMO, said: "Parklands has had a number of deaths due to Covid-19. We wanted to raise the morale of staff there.
"We decided on behalf of the Walsall community to drop off food for the care home."
The food was sourced from Walsall Catering which is based on Green Lane. Walsall-based transport firm SM Transport, which operates buses for disabled children, sponsored the project to fund the food.
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Majid Zeb, director of the company, was happy to help because he appreciates the hard work of the care staff who look after vulnerable people.
Yvonne Russon, manager at the care home, said: "The donation was absolutely amazing. We feel privileged to be part of the community. We feel appreciated."
She continued: "We have had a number of deaths [from Covid-19]. We have been supported by families, the CCG and the local authority.
"My staff have gone over and beyond during the coronavirus crisis. They have been absolutely selfless. They have put the residents before themselves."
Ms Russon gave a special thanks to Jessica Holmes-Stanley, from Walsall NHS Trust, who is an advanced practitioner and has come in to help the care home with prescribing and being an extra nurse.
"She has gone above and beyond," said Ms Russon.
