Home   Deal   News   Article

Coronavirus Kent: Free meals given to over 70s by Martin and Sylvia Sims of Sholden Village Stores

The owners of a popular independent shop near Deal have knocked on 100 doors and said "have a meal on us" to elderly people.

Martin and Sylvia Sims of Sholden Village Stores have packaged up food parcels and delivered them to people aged over 70 living in their village.

Food hampers to 'give a bit of happiness' were delivered to old folk by Sholden Village Stores (33231759)
Food hampers to 'give a bit of happiness' were delivered to old folk by Sholden Village Stores (33231759)

Mrs Sims, who opened the store three and a half years ago, said the delight of being handed a mouthwatering meat pie with veg and Kentish ice-cream has reduced some to tears.

Others have phoned them to give heartfelt thanks.

She said: "I woke up at 3 o'clock one morning and thought I'd like to do this for the community.

She told her husband before drifting back into sleep and within two hours they were getting up as usual to sort through the newspapers and put her plan into action.

She added: "We know people who come in the shop but we didn't know where they live.

"This is a little gift from us to bring you a bit of happiness..."

"So we asked on our Facebook page for people to nominate elderly people in the village."

Names and addresses of nominees were emailed in and as people heard what they were planning, donations began to come in too.

This enabled them to add teabags, milk and a few sweet treats so the recipients could wash down their meal with a cuppa and some biscuits.

The former Marlowe Theatre worker had the initial idea on Thursday, March 26 and by Friday, April 3 the parcels were ready for delivery.

"It's become quite phenomenal. We rang on the door, stepped back, let them take the package and said: 'This is a little gift from us to bring you a bit of happiness'."

The idea came to Sholden Village Stores owner Sylvia Sims at 3am, she told her husband Martin and they got to work the next day
The idea came to Sholden Village Stores owner Sylvia Sims at 3am, she told her husband Martin and they got to work the next day

The hampers would not have been quite so impressive had it not been for the generosity of Solley's Ice Cream Parlour which donated 100 cartons of their award-winning desert for free.

Frozen pie maker Kentish Made from Biddenden also supplied their pies at a reduced cost too.

Solley's managing director Keith Morrison said: "We were delighted to work with Sholden Village stores with supporting the over 70’s in their village in what is a very difficult and scary time.

"The idea fitted in with our own operations where we have moved from supplying attractions and venues to operating a home delivery service.

"We take the view a little bit of what you fancy can do you no harm at all in the current crisis and it helps everyone at home and safe".

"We take the view a little bit of what you fancy can do you no harm..."

Since Coronavirus lockdown was announced Sholden Village Stores have been helping key workers by giving "another lifeline" to make sure they get their essentials

They've been taking orders over the phone for collection before or after shifts - sometimes this means they've opened the shop out of hours. Local deliveries for villagers have also begun.

"People are messaging us through our page, we're taking payment over the phone and delivering the orders to keep people safe," she added.

The volume of deliveries would not have been possible without the help of her brother Charlie Weale and his partner Michelle Pike, who moved down from Essex to buy the corner cafe at Herschell Square.

Mrs Sims is keen to extend their little hampers gifting and she asks for more nominations to be made for recipients for Sholden only. Donations are also gratefully received from businesses and individuals.

You can email these to sholdenvillagestore@hotmail.com.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More