Forres Fish Bar thanked for helping Meadowlark Care Home after suspected gas leak
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A MORAY chip shop has been commended after jumping in to help a care home after a suspected gas leak last week.
Meadowlark Care Home, in Forres, had to turn off the gas and shut the kitchen down on Tuesday, December 29, after a suspected leak – which turned out to be a false alarm.
This left the home needing to find a way to feed its 53 residents.
That's when the home turned to Forres Fish Bar and staff member Becca Gordon (24), whose mum, Nicola Wright, works at Meadowlark, along with former chip shop employee Susan Farquhar.
Becca rose to the challenge – opening the shop five hours early to cook meals for the residents, as well as 25 hungry staff members.
Becca said: "My mum phoned me and explained that the home couldn't cook food.
"She asked if we could cook some fish and sausage suppers so I came in, turned on the friers and sorted everything.
"I came in at about 11am and we don't open until 4pm. We made sure the residents got their food and they were all delighted.
"I know what it is like not having gas. Especially at a care home, it is not something we would say no to.
"We didn't want to see them struggle so we did as much as we could."
Casey Whittaker, care home manager at Meadowlark, was thankful for the help provided by Forres Fish Bar.
She said: "With an hour and a half notice they provided enough food to 53 residents, with enough left for all the staff.
"The residents tucked in and that was a nice treat because it's not something we do very often.
"I just want to say a huge thank you to Forres Fish Bar because they really did get us out of a hole.
"They really helped us out and made sure our residents had a hot meal on a cold day.
"They certainly took the pressure off and it was no questions asked, they just did it."
