PROUD neighbours and friends have said a special thank you to a kind-hearted chef who made more than 10,000 meals for the vulnerable during the lockdown.
Kim Clark, from Evenwood, has created thousands of meals from donated food to help feed the elderly and vulnerable from her kitchen in Farncombe Terrace.
Residents wanted to reward her and show their gratitude. An initial idea of buying her a relaxing holiday in the sun was scuppered because of the coronavirus restrictions. Instead, they brought the holiday to her by collecting cash to get her a hot tub for her back garden. It cost about £500.
Alison Stoker, who runs with village workingmen’s club, said: “Even before lockdown Kim did so much. She is always there to help with the children’s Christmas party I put on and the elderly lunches as well.
“I wanted to organise getting Kim a free weekend away or holiday for all that she had done, somewhere with a hot tub. But I thought what with lockdown it would be some time before she would be able to go anywhere, so I decided instead.”
Donations for the gift flooded in once the word got out. However, Ms Stoker said keeping the surprise a secret was difficult.
She added: “We couldn’t put anything on Facebook or Kim would have seen. But people were really happy to donate. One person asked me what sort of flowers we were getting her, but I told them she’s getting more than flowers.”
Ms Stoker had hoped to have been able to deliver the hot tub on the day Ms Clark reached her 10,000 target, but the supplier was out of stock.
However, only a few days after Ms Clark hit her target, they were able to deliver the surprise.
She added: “She was definitely surprised when she saw us in the back lane. When she saw the hot tub her hand went straight over her face and she did have a cry and it nearly set me off. But everyone is so grateful for the meals.”
In addition to the hot tub and gazebo, there was enough money to supply quite a few bottles of flavoured gin as well – Ms Clark’s favourite tipple.
Villagers now think her efforts should be recognised with an honour.
Ms Stoker added: “Kim has a heart of gold and will help anyone out if she can. Nothing is too much for her. I definitely think 100 per cent she should be nominated for an award for all that she has done. I’m not that good with computers but I’ll go around the village to campaign for it.”
