Chestnut to donate further 10,000 free meals to NHS key workers

Pub group Chestnut has revealed plans to donate a further 10,000 free meals for NHS key workers, bringing the total number of meals it aims to deliver over the coming months to 20,000.

It comes after the group raised almost £25,000 since launching the initiative 12 days ago. So far, over 1,000 meals have been supplied to hospitals, care homes and communities within the east region.

Along with 800 weekly meal deliveries to both Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and Colchester Hospital, Chestnut said it is now also delivering food to care homes in need, with care packages being sent to Davers Court and Glastonbury Court Care Homes in Bury St Edmunds as well as The Chantry, a Sue Ryder care centre in Ipswich.

Chestnut has also joined forces with the Newmarket Festival co-ordination group to deliver 1000 meals to support local communities in Newmarket and surrounding villages.

Following demand, Chestnut will be making available a second kitchen at The Crown, Stoke by Nayland, with more of their 11 pubs and restaurants to follow, as requirements increase.

Philip Turner, founder and managing director of Chestnut, said: “The impact of coronavirus extends beyond frontline NHS workers, so it feels right to increase our target to 20,000 meals. Our brilliant team of volunteers are working hard behind the scenes, cooking, packing and delivering meals each week, but we need your help to keep going.

“Having personally delivered a lot of the meals to the hospitals and care homes in the region, I have seen first-hand the stressful conditions on the frontline – for a brief moment we can make their day a little brighter, this is the difference that donations to the Giving Tree can make to people’s lives. Thank you to all our donors.”