A woman has continued to cook meals for people in need during all three lockdowns.

Samantha Farrell set up the Facebook group IoM Community Meal Donations in March 2020 as a way of helping the elderly and vulnerable people shielding by preparing home-cooked meals for them.

She said she wanted to take the pressure off people who might be struggling financially too, and it is a voluntary group which doesn’t charge those who require food.

Mrs Farrell said: ’We rely solely on public donations and all meals are free, any donations received are ploughed into the hot meals and given straight back into the community.’

Mrs Farrell has also donated bags of shopping essentials to make meals. ’Easter last year we donated more than 550 easter eggs around the island to people, Noble’s Hospital staff, patients at the children’s ward there, residential care homes and prison staff.

’This year, we donated 100 eggs out to people with meals and the young adults of St Christopher’s [charity].’

Her husband, Gareth Farrell, drives Samantha to where she’s delivering meals. This week, she’s cooked a total of 87 meals, delivering them to 16 families.

Mrs Farrell explained: ’The group is different to the Foodbank, as they provide shopping bags, but my cause is supplying already-cooked meals and these can be about three-to-four meals for a few days. I deliver them on a Monday.

’I know what it’s like to struggle and I thought during the first lockdown that I wanted to help people who couldn’t look after themselves and are used to people making their meals for them. I’ve had messages from people who usually look after their parents or grandparents and it takes the pressure off them.’

She said that she’s been suffering from migraines but is still committed to cooking meals regardless, cutting down from three to four days a week of cooking last year to one day this time.

’I couldn’t sit there and not do something to help, I just got up and carried on,’ she said.

’During the first lockdown I cooked 1,600 meals in total with deliveries three days a week. The second lockdown I cooked 525 meals over three weeks with deliveries three times a week.’

Mrs Farrell said she and her husband wear face masks and use hand sanitiser before leaving deliveries outside the front door, ringing the bell and walking back towards the car to maintain social distancing.

’We’ve had quite a few public donations, which we rely solely on. It is quite expensive doing that amount of food, it’s not pre-packed.

’We won’t see anybody struggle. It gives us a satisfaction that we’ve helped people. It isn’t a "meals on wheels" service or a free for all, it’s for genuine people in need during these hard times.’

The group will continue to make meals for two weeks after lockdown lifts.

IoM Community Meal Donations is on Facebook, or call Samantha on 410073.