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Delivering nearly 2 million meals directly to customers in the last 12 months’ alone – apetito Services, the UK’s leading service provider of Meals on Wheels, is proud to be supporting the NACC’s Meals on Wheels Week 2020, which takes place from 2nd November 2020.

This year, the week focuses on celebrating the magnificent work of Meals on Wheels teams across the UK, and the hidden heroes who selflessly played a pivotal role in the Covid-19 frontline effort.
Paul Freeston, Chair & CEO - apetito UK & North America has paid tribute to everyone involved in all aspects of the Meals on Wheels’ service.

He says:
“We’re proud to be supporting the NACC’s Meals on Wheels Week and celebrating the incredible hard-work and commitment displayed by Meals on Wheels drivers across the country, who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to deliver a hot meal to those in need. For many people who were elderly and vulnerable, and in many cases clinically shielded, Meals on Wheels have been a literal lifeline.

“Since the onset of Covid-19 and lockdown in March, we have experienced growth of around 20% across existing apetito Services customers in those who have seen a hot meal delivered regularly to their homes.

“Undoubtedly Covid-19 has drawn awareness to the need for this service and highlighted the immense value it delivers within the community. This has been evidenced repeatedly with heart-warming stories across the UK and indeed, readers may like to visit our video where customers receiving Meals on Wheels have paid some lovely tributes to those people who have helped them during this period and explained what the service means to them on a personal level. (apetito.link/MOWW2020).

In celebration of the fantastic contribution made by its drivers, apetito is giving out ‘Hidden Heroes’ awards to those who have gone above and beyond throughout the year. Customers that have received meals from each of apetito’s ten depots across the UK have been invited to nominate their driver as a ‘hidden hero’, and each depot manager has also selected one individual who has gone way over the call of duty.

Charlotte Bell, Commercial and Operations Manager for apetito Services says:

“Each and every-one one of our team working across Meals on Wheels this year are heroes, and I would like to recognize and thank them all.

“These awards are our way of giving our drivers the recognition, praise and thanks they deserve. Our drivers across our Services Division regularly go beyond the call of duty to help customers and provide that added reassurance to family members their loved ones are safe, particularly during a time when local authority support teams (and carers who monitor and care for individuals), may not have been able to visit.

“The team has been instrumental in keeping our service going, responding positively, and going above and beyond to help in any way they could.

“Our drivers have delivered nearly 2 million meals in the last twelve months, working hard to ensure all demand has been met with no waiting lists – even through the height of lockdown earlier this year. And, now as a second lockdown looks imminent – we know the service is once again going to be under pressure to help those in need.

“Not only do Meals on Wheels drivers ensure the elderly and vulnerable receive a daily hot, nutritious meal, but also offer the added value of that all-important safe and wellbeing check. And in many cases the driver is the only person they would have been seeing that day, really highlighting how these services provide more than just a meal.”

Meals on Wheels’ services provide a vital lifeline to the elderly and vulnerable, enabling them to continue living independently in the community all year round. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of vulnerable people living in the community, confined to their own homes and reliant on others, increased significantly.

To find out more about apetito’s Meals on Wheels service, visit https://www.apetito.co.uk/meals-on-wheels/