Sunderland venue Victors donates hundreds of food parcels to key workers during coronavirus pandemic

Victors, in Low Row, made and donated meals to NHS staff, care workers and the emergency services working tirelessly on Wearside during the lockdown.

The popular business wanted to show their appreciation for those keeping us safe during this difficult time by providing meals that could easily be eaten as staff take well-deserved breaks.

After bulk buying ingredients, Victors chefs prepared the likes of pizzas and pasta dishes that were then distributed by a team of staff from the venue on Wednesday, April 15.

General manager Jenny Smith said the idea came from Victors director Keith Donkin who organised the effort.

She said: “We bought all the ingredients and then four of our chefs came in to make the food. Bar staff also came in to help deliver all of the food.

“We donated to Sunderland Royal and Monkwearmouth Hospitals as well as care homes, the North East Ambulance Service, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Stagecoach.

“A team of 12 were involved, including four chefs and eight drivers. We tried to cover everyone.”

Victors donated around 180 pizzas and 30 different cakes as part of their effort along with a range of pasta dishes.

Key workers who received a donation included those at Sycamore Care Centre, Thornbury Care Centre, Grindon Lane Primary Care Centre, Pennywell Medical Centre, St Benedict’s Hospice, Marigold Care Centre, and Innovation Pharmacy, among others.

The team wore protective gear to drop off the food in the entrance of each organisation, with general manager Jenny saying the response has been fantastic.

She added: “The response has been really positive and we have had a lot of messages about it.

“Before we did it people had contacted us about where we should go, so we wrote a list of the different departments in the hospital we wanted to go to and the different care homes in Sunderland so we could split off as a team.

“They were all so chuffed.”

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