Katie Fiddler has started fundraising so that the scheme can continue and expand

Whether they're a grandparent, family friend, or next-door neighbour, everyone knows someone older who has had to be extra cautious throughout the pandemic. Not being able to visit our elderly friends and relatives has led some to feel increasingly isolated or lonely. One Barry resident and business-owner is looking to change this through the power of home-cooked, hot meals. Katie Fiddler opened KC's Old Post Office Café two weeks before the firebreak lockdown, and was kept busy by regulars of the previous business and new customers alike. Since she was forced to close the café for two weeks, Katie decided to help those in Barry in need of a hot meal. Noticing there were already lots of organisations helping children, she decided to concentrate on the elderly. "I thought about older people who might be isolating or too scared to go outside. I know there's lot of places you can contact but many don't know about what's available to them," said Katie. "My dad has had to isolate through this period because he has chest pains. There's bound to be other people in that situation where they've been alone since March and they might not have family who can drop things at the door. "So, I thought if I could not necessarily reach out to them, but reach out to someone who has an elderly neighbour, then the young people online can contact us and we can get a meal out to those who need it. "Older generations don't tend to use the internet and a lot are too proud to look at what help is out there. So many people I've spoken to just have a sandwich each day. "It's not about who's the neediest, it could just be that someone is living alone and hasn't had a cooked meal since their partner died, for example. "It's just nice for them to have a hot, home-cooked meal," she said. People message Katie through Facebook about someone they know who might benefit from a hot meal, and provide either their own mobile number or the number of who it's going to. Katie and her team then get in contact for the address, and ask about allergies, likes and dislikes. On the day of delivery, they get in contact with the delivery time and what meal is on its way. They provide each person with a meal at least twice a week. "We have a full menu in the café, and we do tell them what we have, so people can request something they want. We try and do it in batches and get the same food out on the same day," said Katie. "Most people are just happy with what's on offer, but that way they have warning and know they'll answer the door to someone they're expecting," "We've got instructions from some people, where there's a buzzer and it might take them five minutes to get to the door, so we won't walk away. "We've compiled a little book of names, addresses, allergies and delivery instructions basically." Though the café began by delivering to one vulnerable adult, last Friday night Katie had five new referrals, so their address book is growing with names. "People have contacted for vulnerable adults too," said Katie. "One address we go to is that of a man with learning disabilities, who lives with his elderly mother. He helps as much as he can, so we provide both of them with a meal. "Even if they are eating sandwiches and cakes, at least twice a week they're also getting something warm and nourishing." At Kc's Old Post Office Café, they cook hearty but balanced meals that can be refrigerated and rewarmed. Some of the meals on offer include sausages, mash, vegetables and gravy, scampi and chips, lasagne, cottage pie, corned beef pie, gravy and chips, and cheese and potato pie. "We give quite big portions, but older people tend not to have as big an appetite as our younger customers. Our portions can be halved and stored for up to three days because it's all freshly cooked," said Katie. "Since our food is freshly-made, such as a six-portion lasagne, I'm happy for someone to collect it at a discounted price for someone to have in their freezer." Initially Katie funded everything herself and paid for a driver to deliver the food, but she has set up a JustGiving page to help sustain the donated deliveries. "Our target is £500, and with that money we could feed at least 20 people three times a week until after Christmas, so that's with delivery as well," said Katie. "If we could do that and then look to raise some more money after Christmas again, and keeping that going every few months for something long-term. "If we aim at that, and then grow wider. The elderly doesn't have as much opportunity as we do to see these helpful things, so not only are we giving the meal, but we write down numbers and referral options that they may find useful. "Some might be in lockdown, but some might not get about anyway so that's why I want to keep it going long-term. "I've put in as much as I can financially, but we need a bit of help to make it sustainable," she said. Since posting the fundraiser last Friday, Katie has seen a number of comments offering help. "If we could have someone helping deliver on a Saturday that would be great. Having a few volunteers on board helps us make more meals," said Katie. On Saturday morning, Katie had raised £100, and now the figure stands at £370. "The one good thing to be said about this Covid thing, because there's plenty of bad, is that I've noticed a massive improvement in the kindness of people. People are becoming more family-oriented again," said Katie.