Free meals service in Derry is forced to cease

Greater Shantallow Community Arts, in partnership with Moji, have been delivering meals during lockdown over the past 74 days across all sections of community.

In a letter, Ollie Green from Greater Shantallow Community Arts said that it was with ‘deep regret and sadness’ that the service will ‘cease indefinitely’ on Sunday, May 31.

He added how it has been ‘our great honour to have been able to play our small part in trying to help keep those most vulnerable and susceptible to the impacts of COVID-19 safe and nourished in their homes whilst at the same time hopefully helping to relieve the stress on our frontline NHS heroes  during  this difficult time.’

The letter stated how, as the community slowly begins to emerge out of lockdown, they are ‘acutely aware of the continued need to support our most vulnerable residents.’

“As a small independent grassroots community charity, Greater Shantallow Community Arts has done everything in our power to lobby our local politicians.”

This included, Mr Green said, writing to a range of individuals and bodies including Ministers in government departments, health bodies and the local authority for support to continue the service, but he said that no positive outcomes have been achieved to date.

Mr Green added that as they ‘collectively try to work and plan towards supporting the future needs of our most vulnerable citizens’, they wanted to say a word of deep heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who has supported their service over the past 10 weeks.

“It is said that, ‘difficult times brings out the best in people’ and believe me that is what we have seen from the people of Derry during this pandemic.

“The kindness and generosity of so many individual people has been overwhelming, the donations that Moji has received have made such a difference and allowed us to continue our Free Meals Service way beyond when any funding had run out.

“I want to thank all those funders who have supported this effort, the resources you have given us have impacted on the ground and have reached those in most need and we are most grateful to you all.”

Mr Green also thanked their ‘truly inspirational’ volunteers - the Moji team led by the ‘wonderful’ Mia with volunteers Gemma, Lisa and Brenda, supported  by GSCA’s own “A-Team” of Conor, John and Micky , as well as their delivery drivers and the others who helped.

Below is the letter in full:

“Dear Friends, Neighbours and Service Users.

It is with deep regret and sadness that I must inform you all that as of Sunday 31st May 2020 our Free Meal Delivery Service must cease indefinitely. At that time Greater Shantallow Community Arts in partnership with Moji will have delivered over the proceeding 74 days, in excess of 21,000 meals out to our elderly and isolated neighbours and friends from every section of our community right across our city and district.

It has been our great honour to have been able to play our small part in trying to help keep those most vulnerable and susceptible to the impacts of COVID-19 safe and nourished in their homes whilst at the same time hopefully helping to relieve the stress on our frontline

NHS hero’s  during  this difficult time.

As our community slowly begins to emerge out of “Lockdown” we are acutely aware of the continued need to support our most vulnerable residents.

As a small independent grassroots community charity, Greater Shantallow Community Arts has done everything in our power to lobby our local politicians as well as having written to the Minister for Communities, Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey and the Minister for Health,

Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann pleading for their support to continue this service but to no avail. To say we are disappointed in their responses or lack of response would be an understatement. We have also submitted a proposal locally to the Public Health Agency and to Derry City and Strabane District Council but again no positive outcomes have been achieved to date.

As we collectively try to work and plan towards supporting the future needs of our most vulnerable citizens I just want take the time to say a word of deep heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who has supported our service over the past 10 weeks.

It is said that, “difficult times brings out the best in people” and believe me that is what we have seen from the people of Derry during this pandemic. The kindness and generosity of so many individual people has been overwhelming, the donations that Moji has received have made such a difference and allowed us to continue our Free Meals Service way beyond when any funding had run out.

I want to thank all those Funders who have supported this effort, the resources you have given us have impacted on the ground and have reached those in most need and we are most grateful to you all.

It is real people power that makes the most difference and those who have stepped forward to volunteer with us during this time of worry and need within our community has been truly inspirational. Our Moji team lead by the wonderful Mia with our ever smiling volunteers Gemma, Lisa and Brenda supported  by GSCAs own A-Team of Conor, John and Micky have ensured that hundreds of delicious, nutritional meals are prepared daily and made ready for our amazing team of volunteer delivery drivers, “too many to name individually for fear of leaving anyone out” who bring this support safely to the doors of you our neighbours and friends!

No words of gratitude or expressions of praise can fully relay the thanks and appreciation I feel towards all those who have contributed in so many ways to make this service possible. I have been honoured and humbled by the acts of kindest and love shown by so many people during this difficult time.

Greater Shantallow Community Arts as a local charity will try to continue to do all in our power to help you all in the time ahead our doors are always open and we will continue to be at the end of the phone if help is needed!

God bless you all and keep you safe!

Ollie Green

Greater Shantallow Community Arts

Studio 2 Youth & Community Arts Centre

Skeoge Industrial Estate

Derry