Our first Hospitality Hero is ChefAid Donegal Town: an outreach programme set up by a group of four chefs to provide hot meals free of charge to the elderly and vulnerable in the community.
The programme was set up at the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis by chefs Tim Twomey and Jo Roarty of the Quay West Restaurant, along with two other chefs from the Donegal Town. The group has since expanded further, with the addition of two more chefs and two support members to the team.
As well as providing hot meals, ChefAid Donegal Town wants to take the fear out of isolation and let some of the more vulnerable in their community know that there is support available.
There has been huge support from local businesses and food suppliers as well as the local Garda Siochana, who help deliver the meals. Local hotels and Letterkenny’s Institute of Technology Killybegs Campus have also donated supplies. The initiative has been so successful, in fact, that 6 additional “pods” offering ChefAid support are set to open up around Co. Donegal.
The group have also been raising funds online via GoFundMe. Their initial €5,000 fundraising target has been eclipsed as donations now stand in excess of an incredible €23,000.
You can connect with ChefAid Donegal Town via their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Know a Hospitality Hero? Nominations are now open via FFT.ie.
