When official #LockDown was announced by the Government on 22nd March no one really knew the impact that this was going to have on society as we knew it.
We, Healing Manor Hotel are an independently run hotel, restaurant, pub and wedding venue. With no reopening date in sight, and supermarkets in turmoil as folk stockpiled ‘essentials’ we knew that we wanted to do something to help our local community.
One week in, 27th March, #NominateYourNeighbour.r was born. We launched this campaign across our social media sites, to enough our customers to nominate their isolating neighbours, loved ones, key workers and the vulnerable in our local Grimsby community. Alongside hand delivering free meals to those nominated, our kitchen team have been hard at work, kneading hundreds of loaves of bread each week, which have been donated to various charities, key worker destinations and also given our to residents in the village of Healing.
Each week throughout the impact of #COVID-19 and thanks to the hands of our incredible volunteers, we have hand delivered over one thousand free hot meals to the doorsteps of those nominated. Below, we are sharing just some of the stories and faces of those that we’ve been able to support via #NominateYourNeighbour.
A special thank you to y the beautiful Lucy Humberston, Penny Mcnally, Marie Wilkinson and the biggest thanks to Garret Busby, who has been our right (and left)-hand-man since we started this campaign. Our virtual story telling across all of our social media platforms has been made possible thanks to Elizabeth Rose who is the most incredible Lincolnshire-based Photographer and has taken social distance photographs over the past few months.
Photographs by the super talented Elizabeth Rose Photographer
Terry
Was nominated by Emma. He’s 81 and lives on his own. He would normally get taken out by family or friends for dinner each week, but they’ve not been able to treat him since the country went into semi-lock down back in March. Emma thought a meal would be just the thing to cheer him up. Thanks to Garrett Busby, one of our volunteers here at Healing Manor Hotel and College Lecturer at Grimsby Institute, we were able to deliver him a delicious roast turkey lunch and rhubarb & apple crumble for dessert.
Kate & Joyce.
Whilst there have been so many nominations which have brought a tear or two to our eyes , Kate & Joyce’s nomination made by Elvi couldn’t have been any more heart breaking when Garrett delivered their lunch today. Kate (Mum) & Joyce (Nan) are isolating together whilst Kate’s husband was in intensive care with COVID-19 and had been for two weeks. It is with such sadness that he lost his battle with the virus on Friday and we’re sending all of our love to their family during such horrific times. Elvi told us that it was her Dad that would always do the cooking, and that when their food was dropped off by Garrett, it was one of the first times her mum has smiled over these past two weeks.
Steve & Julie
Steve has been battling several illnesses including Parkinson’s. It’s taken everything away from him including; his job, eye sight and now his favourite sports thanks to COVID-19. Prior to the country going into a state of semi-lock-down, Steve & Julie were in the process of having their kitchen renovated and consequently have now been left without a kitchen to cook in, so we decided that they were without any doubt very deserving of a hot home cooked lunch.
John
Nominated by Hayley, John lives on his own and is due to celebrate his 80th birthday next week. We wanted to send him an early birthday treat and cheer up his Easter weekend, with lunch and dessert. This was kindly and safely delivered by Marie who is a part of our team and currently volunteering as we try to help more and more of our community who are in need.
Marie also made her way around town delivering a few more of your #NominateYourNeighbour‘s.
Rosie
Was nominated by Hedi. Rosie is working on the front line and having to isolate away from her two daughters.
Sally
Nominated by Richard is a front line nurse. She’s working around the clock to ensure patients are cared for in hospital and Richard thought that Sally deserved a Sunday Lunch for her and her family of 4.
Carla
Nominated by her neighbour Viv, Carla is a midwife & single mum. She’s been having to work as normal up until she was sent home to isolate this week after showing symptoms. Up until showing symptoms, as well as working around the clock and being Mum, Carla has been buying food and care packages for her neighbours in-need out of her own pocket.
Penny who is isolating in Healing village with her parents has kindly volunteered her time throughout the duration of COVID-19, and whilst it’s safe to do so, to help others in our local community,
Emily
Was nominated by her Mum Penny. Emily is working very hard from home whilst isolating with her family. She’s a Civil Servant working for the Chief Scientific Adviser on the battle against COVID-19, and her Mum wanted the family to be able to enjoy a delicious lunch together for a little normality in the madness that is today.
Sheila & Graham
Nominated by Carolyn, Graham’s wife and Sheila’s daughter in law. Sheila suffers from Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia and Graham cares for her, this is alongside trying to keep his own business running during this horrific pandemic. We couldn’t think of two more deserving people to enjoy Easter lunch delivered to their door step for them to enjoy it together!
Rex & Dorothy
Nominated by Richard. Rex has not only has arthritis, but he’s been left disabled in his back and blind as a result of a stroke. Dot (Dorothy) looks after him full time and Richard wanted to cheer them both up as they both celebrated their birthdays in the past two weeks.
Jessyca
Nominated by her sister Chelsy is currently having to self isolate alone as her partner is in the RAF. He was due home 3 weeks ago but has now been told that he may not be able to return home until the end of Summer. 
June, Frank, Pat & Maureen
Were nominated by Liana. They’re 3 lots of neighbours who always look out for one another, but are currently having to self isolate due to COVID-19. June looks after her neighbour Pat who suffers from dementia and Maureen & Frank aren’t allowed to leave the house to go to the shops.
We’ve personally witnessed the struggle for those that are having to genuinely self isolate and stay at home, struggle to secure time slots on any of the supermarket website for home delivery. This is something which we’re becoming increasingly worried about and are keeping everything crossed that more regulations are put in, to allow those who genuinely can’t go to the shops or don’t have anyone to go to the shops for them, order food safely to their home without any compromise. We received the most lovely and heartwarming messages of thanks for this weeks home deliveries, which made it all beyond worth while.
Pam
Was nominated by her daughter Claire. Pam’s husband has dementia and Claire wanted to brighten up her mum’s day who is always there to take care of everyone else. Pam is making the most of lock down by keeping herself busy in the Garden, but Claire thought she deserved a pick-me-up and a day off having to cook.
Kath
Has become somewhat of a local celebrity in Healing after the most generous and heartwarming campaign on a village residents page to celebrate her 100th birthday a few weeks back in the safest way possible. On her birthday so was greeted by cards, rainbows and banners in her garden and even had local residents club together to safely deliver a birthday cake and treats. Kath suffers with dementia and is having to self-isolate due to her age with just a few safe visits from her carers.
Sheila
Was nominated by her Granddaughter Elaine. She’s been having to isolate on her own and recently had the news that a relative had passed away. Elaine wanted to cheer Sheila up with a surprise lunch.
Margaret
Nominated by Scott came out of hospital only three weeks ago after having surgery. She’s been recovering by herself at home and is only allowed to video call her family due to COVID-19 and having to isolate. Scott wanted to cheer up his mum with a home cooked lunch to brighten up her Sunday.
Natasha was nominated by Jordan. They’re isolating due to their young boy having an underlaying health condition. Jordan wanted to cheer his Mum & Dad up with a surprise lunch, kindly delivered by Lucy.
Gavin & Stacey, nominated by Heidi recently lost their brother-in-law after an accident at home. Due to COVID-19 family weren’t able to be there during his time in hospital, nor where they able to support one another from different house holds. Heidi wanted to cheer them up with a lunch delivered to their door, for the whole family, during such difficult times.
Jenny, a Senior Support Worker is working around the clock providing adult support home from home.
Debra & Tony, both key workers have been working every hour humanly possible, which has meant missing vital time needed with their families during the worry of COVID-19.
Linda, nominated by her daughter Emma is a nurse who’s working on the front line to look after the elderly. Emma wanted to cheer up her mum with a hot meal delivered to her door.
Angeline, nominated by Kirsty, works in ICU and has been caring for everyone other than herself throughout this whole pandemic.
Elaine was delivered too by Garret. She’s having to isolate by herself as she’s classed as vulnerable. A problem we’ve heard about time and time again, even though she’s considered vulnerable she’s been unable to get listed to ensure she can get online slots for food delivery. Instead, she’s had to rely on others going to the shop for her.
These are just a few of the stories from some of the #NominateYourNeighbour‘s we have visited throughout #LockDown. If you’d like to nominate someone, please click here and fill in all of the details.
Photographs by the super talented Elizabeth Rose Photographer
Care Plus Group
Nominated by Debbie, who works for Care Plus Groups as an Advanced Urgent Care Nurse, she wanted to nominated her team as they’re all working so hard, putting themselves on the front line ensuring that those who need looking after in the community are still able to access the care they need. We safely hand delivered around 30 lunches, with a huge thank you to IshFish for providing
