Coronavirus: Takeaway owners celebrated for community support during crisis

Many are providing free meals to NHS staff and local people in need

Workers from Di Vitos Chip Shop in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire deliver pizzas to their local chemist (Just Eat/SWNS)

Takeaway owners are being celebrated for their efforts to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Good Deed Feed was established to highlight the restaurant and takeaway businesses that are working to look after those in need during the outbreak.

Individuals singled out for their efforts include Jay Alom, owner of the Lime Pickle Indian takeaway in Birmingham, who has provided NHS workers in the local area with more than 300 free meals.

In addition, the business has been providing free meals to local care home residents and staff, with almost all residents too vulnerable to shop for themselves.

Mr Alom, winner of Best Takeaway in Britain at the 2017 British Takeaway Awards, said: “These are probably the most difficult times we’ll face in our lifetime.

“We’re just a small business trying our best to do the right thing for our community, and those that care for it.”

Wasim Arshad, owner of Mr Chef in Uddinsgton, South Lanarkshire has been delivering food packages to vulnerable people in his local area.

So far, with the help of his staff, Mr Arshad has been donating 100 hot meals a week to those in need, while also delivering essential grocery items and toiletries.

Mr Arshad said: “We owe our success to our community, and this is our chance to give something back. It’s important that we get food and essentials to those who need them, while also checking in, from a safe distance, to ensure they’re okay.”

Clare Cam, who runs Cafe Pizzeria Express in Harlow, Essex, has been delivering free pizzas to the local hospital on a weekly basis while also delivering hot food free of charge to the elderly, vulnerable and those who can not afford meals.

Ms Cam said: “We just wanted to do our little bit to show our appreciation to NHS workers and give back to the town who have given us so much.”

Fabrizo Parella, owner of Divitos Chip Shop in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, temporarily closed his business, which he has run with his family for more than 20 years.

But with the help of his dedicated staff, they have still been serving the local community by donating meals to his local hospital, police station, doctor’s surgery and chemist.

Mr Parella said: “Although the shop is closed, we still feel like we have a part to play. We want to keep looking for different businesses around the community that we can help.”

The takeaways have been highlighted by the Good Deed Feed, which was launched by Just Eat, to thank the restaurants and takeaways across the country that are offering their help during the coronavirus crisis.​

Andrew Kenny, UK managing director, Just Eat, said: “At Just Eat, we’re committed to supporting our restaurant partners, many of which are small, often family-run businesses.

“The restaurant operators we work with are some of the most hard-working individuals you’ll ever come across.

“Whether it’s feeding people on the front line or delivering groceries to the vulnerable in self-isolation, takeaways and restaurants across the country are going above and beyond to help their local communities.

“To put others first during these uncertain times shows true dedication, and we want to champion that.”

The initiative has been backed by the British Takeaway Campaign, whose chair, Ibrahim Dogus, added: “Takeaways and restaurants up and down the country are responding to the government’s call and stepping up to the challenge of keeping our nation fed under incredibly difficult circumstances, with many funding their efforts out of their own pocket.

“We want to say thank you to them all. Their ongoing support to their communities needs to be recognised and applauded. It’s a beacon of positivity during what is a very testing time for us all.”

SWNS