A group of volunteers have been recognised for their dedication to providing meals to those in Penrith who are lonely and alone.
The Penrith Methodist Church Lunch Club has won one of Radio Cumbria’s Make a Difference Awards, in the community category, having served the community in Penrith for almost 31 years.
More than 100 volunteers have been involved since the group started and they have prepared and served more than 65,000 meals over that period.
The service is provided by three teams of cooks, potato peelers, table layers, dish washers and — for those unable to get to the Wordsworth Street Methodist Church by themselves — drivers who pick them up and later take them back home.
Anne Macdonald, the leader of the group, said: “Over 30 years ago I had the idea that Penrith Methodist Church had the appropriate facilities to run a lunch club.
“This was born of my previous experience of helping at Age Concern lunch clubs and the Stick and Wheel Club — sadly neither now in existence.”
Anne recalls that initially around 25 people came along to eat food provided by a small number of volunteers, mainly from within the church. Those numbers soon grew, with referrals coming from Age Concern — now Age UK — and Social Services, plus people from the wider community who heard about the lunch club and wanted to come along.
“Around 2000 we had to make the difficult decision to limit numbers to around 70 and this continued until 2020 when we had to close our doors due to the COVID pandemic, but we reopened as soon as we could in 2021,” said Anne.
“The club is primarily focused on offering care and a nutritious meal and friendship to the lonely and alone. However, we hardly ever turn anyone away.
“We are only limited by people’s ability to get to the club on their own. We do have a team of volunteers who regularly help around 20 clients who are no longer able to make their own way.”
The drivers are part of a team of around 36 volunteers who work on a one week in three basis, with the plan being to adopt a one in four week rota.
Anne said: “We are always looking for new volunteers. All our volunteers over the years would say they love to help out and feel they receive as many blessings as the clients.
“Our volunteers are also drawn from the wider community. We welcome anyone who is willing to be part of a team — no particular skills are needed just an ability to fit in.”
She added: “We must sincerely thank the people who so kindly nominated the group for the award and, of course, the independent judges who made the final decision — not forgetting the excellent hospitality given to myself and the three other volunteers who were selected by their co-volunteers to represent the lunch club at the award ceremony.”
