A third ChefAid has sprung up in Donegal, this time in Killygordon.
It follows on from the huge success of the initial Donegal Town operation and a second which began dispatching free meals in Letterkenny on Friday.
ChefAid Killygordon is a non-profit movement with the aim of providing a free hot meal and a daily connection for older people and the vulnerable in the community during the coronavirus crisis.
ChefAid Killygordon is based out of the Yes Chef catering kitchen in the Crossroads and Killygordon Enterprise (CAKE) Centre. It is made up of a core group of chefs, concerned local individuals and organisations such as Red Hughs GAA and the Three Rivers Badminton Club.
The co-owner of Yes Chef, Andy Doherty, said they merely wanted to give back to the community and thank them for all their custom.
“When the current crisis hit a lot of Yes Chef orders were cancelled and the work dried up,” explained Andy.
“We set up this business from scratch five years ago and would not be here today if it were not for the support of the local community. All we are doing is giving something back. I’ve lived here all my life and think this is the least we could do, particularly for the older members of the community and those living alone.”
Volunteer with ChefAid Letterkenny, Paddy McCafferty, loading his car on Saturday. ChefAid Killygordon will be hoping to replicate the success of the Letterkenny project and the one in Donegal Town.
Initially ChefAid intends to cover Donaghmore Parish, which includes the villages of Crossroads and Killygordon as well as outlying areas including Meenreagh, The Glen, Liscooley, Gleneely and Meenlougher, to name but a few.
Start-up funding totalling almost €2,000 has been pledged to date and includes €500 from the original ChefAid Donegal Town team as well as CAKE and the local Wednesday Club for Older People.
However they aim to raise enough funds to sustain the project through the current crisis in order to pay for materials and ingredients.
As a result a ChefAid Killygordon GoFundMe page has been set up and has already raised €4,000. To donate, log on to www.gofundme.com and search for ChefAid Killygordon. Lodgements can also be made through the Bank of Ireland, Ballybofey – BIC: BOFIIE2D, IBAN: IE92 BOFI 9047 1277 195547.
The group still needs chefs and is also appealing to closed restaurants, hotels and other food related businesses to donate any unwanted produce.
This is an entirely voluntary effort and all monies raised will go towards providing this service to the local community.
The day-to-day activities will be co-ordinated through a dedicated mobile telephone number as well as the use of Eircodes.
ChefAid Killygordon is asking anyone who feels they, or their loved ones, qualify for support to contact them on 087 3992666 or via Facebook. The group can also be contacted by calling the CAKE office on 07491 49557, between 9.30am and 1.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)