Story
'Oh my gosh...You made everyone so happy! It was so nice to eat this fresh food...So careful, so beautiful...I felt like I was at my grandma's house. Everything [the stress of Covid & work] was gone. In that moment I felt so good...Thank you.' ICU nurse, JR Hospital Oxford, Jan. 2021
Phase 1 - meals to Intensive Care Unit staff at the JR, started mid-Jan. 2021. The positive impact of these meal gifts can be heard in the words of staff in the 1 minute video above...It's been a really hard year for everyone, but there can be no doubt, the workload and pressures on ICU staff have been relentless and unprecedented...This project is also a great opportunity to support a couple of local restaurants too.As the Vaults owner explained, 'it has allowed us to open up our kitchen 3 days a week. Cooking for hospital staff has been a real boost for our staff morale. It is a great way to show our appreciation and gratitude. We feel very proud to be part of this.' In collaboration with La Cucina and Vaults & Garden, Oxford, beautifully prepared hot lunches (click on gallery icon on photo above) are delivered at a discounted rate of £6/meal. In February this cost the project £600 a day, six days a week (= £3600/wk). By the end of the month, over 3200 meals had been given. We are continuing to provide lunches two days a week in March...If leaving a donation message, please do so for our critical workers. Please note, this first target is for the end of phase 1. (In partnership with Oxford Hospitals Charity.)
Phase 2 acknowledges the many critical (key) workers across Oxfordshire who have worked in tough circumstances since Covid started. This Spring, we also hope to be able to gift one year's supply of a multivitamin+D3 to as many key workers as possible. Linked to this, we plan to run a community art & poetry exhibition and competition. Winning designs will be used on the vitamin labels as part of this symbolic 'thank you'. (In partnership with Oxford Vitality.)
We are interested in positive, creative ways to show our thanks & appreciation to our many key workers across Oxfordshire. We're sure that with your involvement, further initiatives will develop during this hopeful next phase as we start to move out of lockdown. But for the two phases to continue, we need your help! We'd love to hear from you if you have something to offer or would like to get involved...
If you have questions or would like to get in touch to volunteer practical or logistical help, you can email: givingback@hopeoxford.org
We know it's financially hard for many individuals, families and businesses; no donation is too big or too small.
If your business has something you're able to donate, or if you'd like to sponsor our projects, please contact us by email: givingback@hopeoxford.org
Do please share this page! Thank you for your support.
Take care,
Laura Jay & JoshKay
(project founders)
Twitter: @GivingBackOx