Feel Good Friday: Food for the Soul

Once a week Glenda Andrew and other volunteers prepare hot meals with the zing of their Caribbean heritage and deliver these meals to Britain’s older immigrants who have been isolated from friends and family by the pandemic.

“It’s a great way to connect and build that relationship, but I didn’t know that at the time,″ Andrew said of the project’s beginnings. “I just knew that I wanted to do something and make sure that they were getting a hot meal — not sandwiches, not soup — getting something that they’re accustomed to eating and hope that they would enjoy it.”

Once a week, for the last 42 weeks, the lucky seniors on Andrew’s list have been treated to delicacies such as jerk pork, curry goat and cow foot soup accompanied by rice and peas, yams and plantains. Portions are hefty, so there’s enough to go in the freezer for another day. Last week, some 400 meals were packed into yellow foam packages and delivered by volunteers.

In addition to food, the volunteers offer a bit of human contact. The loneliness and isolation of the past year is painful for many of the seniors. When deliveries arrive, they seek out friendly gossip with the volunteers about what their neighbors are up to.

Learn more about Glenda and her efforts at APNews.com.