PPP volunteer team doing a 'fabulous job'
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MORE than 30 local volunteers have come forward to help Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP) deliver services during the coronavirus pandemic.
"We have had a great response to our volunteer team," said Katrina MacNab, PPP's chief executive officer.
The volunteers have been helping with a variety of tasks, including taking dogs out for people who are shielding, picking up prescriptions, shopping for essential items and delivering hot meals.
"A lot of hours are being dedicated to this, and our volunteers have been doing a fabulous job in keeping people's spirits up," Mrs MacNab said.
"I have been overwhelmed by the dedication of our team of staff and volunteers. Staff have all worked additional hours and it has been quite intense trying to get everything up and running.
"The excellent feedback from the community has been a great boost, and it is a really rewarding task."
PPP – based at the Pulteney Centre in Huddart Street, Wick – recently secured £10,000 in funding from SSE which has allowed it to go ahead with delivering meals to elderly people.
I have been overwhelmed by the dedication of our team of staff and volunteers.
Mrs MacNab explained that there had been a huge uptake for the hot home-cooked meals.
"Many people living on their own relied on family to help, or went to clubs and out with friends, but are now shielding and stuck at home," she said.
"Nobody is going to cook a hearty meal for one and some are not fit to do so."
The funding meant that PPP could open the kitchen at the centre, and pay for ingredients as well as paying for the cook, while relying on volunteers to deliver the meals.
In just one day recently the volunteers were able to put out 75 meals. However, the centre has the capacity to make 100 meals a day.
Meals have included a casserole made from sausages supplied from the Latheron butchers, mince, quiche and pork loin, with either soup or a pudding.
PPP has also received donations of baking to go out with the lunches, and this has been very well received.
A JustGiving page is going to be set up to allow people to donate money towards the meals, as the grant does not quite cover all anticipated costs.
Any remaining money raised will go towards the pensioners' lunch club and men’s shed once they reopen.
Ms MacNab said: "I want to stress, though, we are not actively looking for donations – it is a difficult time for many, and it is only optional to those that want to and can afford to.
"Many may want to but can’t afford to do so, and we would rather they didn’t. Supporting our fundraising events later in the year would be as much appreciated."
PPP has also put together boxes for children which contain the basics to provide fun activities in the home.
Among the items in the boxes are paints, colouring-in pens, scissors, glue, card, scrapbooks and baking equipment. Forty boxes are to go out in the first week, with another 40 the next.
Members of the childcare team are busy working along with volunteers to put together a workbook of activities promoting learning through play.
