Christmas meals delivered to local residents
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Christmas Day was made special for many Caithness residents with nearly 100 meals delivered to those living on the west side of the county.
Not daunted by the fact that the usual community festive dinner could not go ahead, Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) remained committed to providing three-course meals to people who were isolated or would otherwise have struggled to provide for themselves.
A host of volunteers, staff and board members turned out on Christmas Day to provide a total of 96 dinners to residents of Thurso, Halkirk, Caithness West and Castletown communities. The Castletown Resilience Group with the deliveries in its area.
Prior to this the trust had also provided over 20 Christmas meal hampers to families throughout the area.
Joan Lawrie, TCDT development manager, said: “We felt it was important this year to also provide for families to lessen the financial strain of Christmas.
"While we couldn’t accommodate large groups for a Christmas meal the hampers included everything and more to cook a Christmas meal from turkey to dessert and fresh vegetables.
"We’ve very grateful for donations received to provide these and also for the funding support from the Highland Council Covid-19 Fund.”
The meals were delivered throughout the town by eight volunteer drivers who were all dressed for the festivities and brought festive cheer to those at home who were not, due to restrictions or other reasons, able to spend Christmas with their families this year.
The food was very ably cooked by volunteer Lynda Moran who had helped co-ordinate the hot meals service the trust had previously offered during lockdown.
Helen Allan, TCDT chair, said, “We are very thankful for Lynda especially, who made cooking of the meal go so smoothly, and all of our volunteers who helped prior to the day and on Christmas Day.
"Christmas dinner for 96 people is very daunting but we’re delighted with how smoothly everything ran and very thankful for everyone who assisted.
"The feedback has been incredible and we have been taking calls from very grateful community members since Christmas Day.”
TCDT also run the Sharing Shed which is based at Thurso Youth Club and provides surplus food to be shared in the community.
It is free of charge and people are welcome to come and collect any food from the shed over the festive period. It is open daily, other than
Sundays, from around 10am to 3pm.
