A new community meal service that has been a huge success in Killygordan, Letterkenny and Donegal Town is to extend to the Twin Towns.
ChefAid Killygordan, which provides free hot meals for the elderly or any vulnerable person in isolation, will be expanding into Ballybofey and Stranorlar from today.
ChefAid started in Donegal at the beginning of the Covid-19 social-distancing period, when a group of chefs who were laid off got together to use their skills to feed people in need.
The Killygordon team started deliveries around the parish last Tuesday, and are already distributing 50 meals per day. The team are pleased with how the service is operating and say a big thank you to all the volunteers who have been making it possible.
Donegal GAA stars Oisin Gallen (left) and Stephen McMenamin help with the delivery of dinners to their respective communities in the Killygordon and Twin Towns areas.
The Twin Towns are joining up their chefing and funding resources with the Killygordon team to extend the operation and make sure that funds and supports can go as far as possible.
The service is focussed on providing meals for older people and the vulnerable who do not have a family support network to look after them at this time.
Leah Fairman of BASICC/Ballybofey & Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce says: “The businesses and community groups of the Twin Towns were already discussing the need to establish a ChefAid programme in the area. When the Killygordon team started, we felt that the right thing to do is for everyone to work together. The whole service is about collaboration and serving the community and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to establish the partnership.”
Operating from the Yes Chef Catering kitchen based in the Oaktree Business Park (CAKE Centre), ChefAid Killygordon & Twin Towns is a non-profit group, with the aim of providing a free hot meal and a daily connection for older people and the vulnerable in the community during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. They are a core group of chefs and concerned local individuals, businesses, clubs and organisations.
Volunteer delivery drivers from the Red Hughs and Setanta clubs before they head out into the community.
Initially, ChefAid covered the Donaghmore Parish, which includes the villages of Crossroads and Killygordon as well as outlying areas including Meenreagh, The Glen, Liscooley, Gleneely, Ballinacor, Carrickshandrum and Meenlougher, to name but a few. However, as of Monday, cover has been extended to the towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar.
Seed (startup) funding totalling almost €3,000 has been pledged to date. This includes €500 from the original ChefAid Donegal town team as well as donations from CAKE and the local Wednesday Club for Older People, All Seasons Charity Shop and Cúnamh.
However, they aim to raise enough funds to sustain the project through the current crisis in order to pay for materials/ingredients etc.
As a result a ‘ChefAid Killygordon & Twin Towns’ GoFundMe page has been set up, raising over €5,000 by lunchtime yesterday. To donate, log on to www.gofundme.com/f/chefaid-killygordon
Donations can also be made directly to a charity account in Bank of Ireland, Ballybofey. The account details are: BIC: BOFIIE2D IBAN: IE92 BOFI 9047 1277 195547.
This is an entirely voluntary effort and all monies raised will go towards providing this service to the local community.
ChefAid Killygordon & Twin Towns would like to take the opportunity to ask anyone who feels that they, or their loved ones, qualify for the support they are offering, to contact them on 087 3992666 or via the ChefAid Killygordon & Twin Towns Facebook page and talk with one of their volunteers.
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