PUB landlords, Adelle Gill and Steve Ellis, have kept themselves busy during lockdown, cooking and preparing meals for local people in need and frontline workers.
The couple, who run the White Hart in Corsley, have provided meals to homeless people, ambulance drivers, shop workers, and local vulnerable residents.
At Christmas, they helped feed 150 people on Christmas Eve, and are currently providing 15 to 40 free lunches a day to local children. And this is all out of their own pocket and on top of their efforts to keep business at the White Hart ticking over with a takeaway service whilst it remains closed due to lockdown restrictions.
“We just want to give back, as we’ve been in a similar position,” said Steve and Adelle talking to Frome Times, “we were homeless once, we know what it’s like to have nothing.
“It’s certainly keeping us occupied, and it’s given us a purpose and a goal too.”
And the couple’s efforts have inspired the community to get involved, with donations of food turning up at their pub on a regular basis.
“There’s even been mysterious Amazon packages turning up with donations of food too,” said the couple, “the response has been great! We had enough money to do this ourselves, but it’s nice that others want to get on board and help vulnerable people.”
The couple describe the feedback they have received from those that they have helped as “touching” and “humbling”.
“One family had no food in their cupboards – so we donated a hamper to them and they were so so grateful, it was quite humbling.”
The couple are also preparing to go mobile with their efforts in their new food trailer, which they hope will also support their business as they adapt to trading under Covid restrictions.
“The food trailer will also be used as a sort of soup kitchen, donating food to the homeless and people who are struggling – it’s not only going to help us make a few quid, it will also help us give back too.”
For more information about the White Hart in Corsley, visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/whitehartcorsley
