The high streets may be unusually quiet and empty, but behind closed doors there is a buzz of excitement and energy. There are still plenty of people out there who are turning a time of darkness and loneliness into hope and togetherness.
One business that has decided to put their café to positive use is All Things Nice in Ewell, Surrey. Due to the current situation with Covid-19 and their children being home from school, owners Nicci Potts and Sara Dawson looked to see what they could achieve despite their café being closed. They still have access to their suppliers and decided to use them to help NHS staff working long and difficult shifts. This independent café prides itself on being at the heart of the community in Ewell Village and they wanted to extend their support to local frontline carers during this challenging time.
Local caterer Danielle Webber at Picky Bits originally set up a donation page to buy supplies to feed staff at her local hospital in Epsom. Nicci Potts of All Things Nice decided to volunteer her help. The fund was an overwhelming success and so with five other caterers getting involved ‘Cater For Our Carers’ was born. The other caterers involved are Loves Kitchen, Good Evening Food, Little Ginger and Chings Kitchen. As Nicci put it, there is “some serious local girl power” at work.
Nicci told us that she volunteered her services to Danielle to help her cook for the hospital, however when that became successful it made sense for them as a café to take over part of the catering on a weekly basis. All Things Nice have committed to catering on Mondays. Last Monday they created 75 afternoon teas.
Nicci explains that these were “proper homemade treat boxes. Each contained a selection of sandwiches; 3 mini cakes – chocolate tiffin, lemon drizzle and bread pudding – all homemade and popular cakes in the café and freshly baked scones with jam and clotted cream. We couldn’t get a pot of tea in there so instead put in a juice box!”
Nicci added that “this Monday coming we will provide homemade Quiche and salad in boxes. We will continue to do this during the lockdown period. We are delighted to be able to help by way of feeding those on the frontline.”
When the team handed the boxes over to their contact at the hospital, they were understandably delighted. As Nicci put it, “it’s such a lovely thing to be able to do.”
If you want to donate to their cause, please follow this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/picky-bits-provide-meals-to-support-epsom-hosp-nhs
You can follow their progress and see updates on their Facebook pages and Instagram, or you can follow the hashtag #CaterForOurCarers.
