Spanish restaurant Evuna has donated all of its fresh fruit and vegetables – left over as a result of the government’s mandatory shutdown – to a local food bank.
The Stamford New Road restaurant was one of the dozens of Altrincham restaurants, bars, cafes and other venues ordered to shut their doors yesterday as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Evuna had already decided to closed its doors on Thursday, but the sudden closure had left it with a significant amount of food that was set to go to waste.
Jane Dowler, co-founder of Evuna, told us that each of its four restaurants – including Altrincham – had bought about £800’s worth of food at the start of the week and most of it was still left by the time of the shutdown.
She said that around 70% was donated to the Hope Central food bank in Knutsford, via The Welcome Centre, with the rest handed out to staff. It will also be giving out trays of eggs to elderly people in the community today.
Rebecca Stott, from Evuna, said: “In a world of dark and uncertain times let’s all make the effort to help, support and be kind to one another.”
She said the Welcome Centre had advised them to would “make a huge different to the food hampers they are providing for the elderly, vulnerable and those already in self-isolation” – and urged other local restaurants and pubs to consider doing the same.
She added: “During this difficult time, we wish all our customers to stay safe and healthy. We are able to do wine/beer/drinks to take away, and staff can deliver to local areas. Customers would need to order this via admin@evuna.com.”
Dowler said that the government’s drastic protection measures – announced by the Chancellor yesterday – had saved the jobs of its staff.
“We’ll be back… bigger and stronger!” she said.
