An elderly woman who read an article published in the Manx Independent a few weeks ago has said that if it wasn’t for reading it, she would have been suffering in silence.

We featured a story about a local non-profit group which started spreading the word via its Facebook page, Isle of Man Community Meal Donations.

Run by Samantha and Gareth Farrell, it donates homemade meals to the vulnerable and elderly.

On Monday evening, Mrs Farrell received a call from a woman who was in great distress and in need of her help.

She said: ’My husband and I were sitting down on Monday night and she rang me well after tea time, this poor lady was hysterical down the phone and she was crying, saying that she had no food and had nothing to eat and didn’t know what to do.

’She said that she’d come across the article that was written in the paper last time [April 8] in the Manx Independent and she’d been in hospital for two weeks, so there was a pile of newspapers left for her at her home and the one she actually picked up was the one with the article in the pile.

’So she gave us a ring in the hope that we’d be able to help because nobody had told her about what it is we do - she has no access to the internet, so it was basically hit or miss whether she found out about us or not.’

Mrs Farrell said that she tried to calm the woman down over the phone, and that when the lady eventually calmed down, she arrived at her home in 10 minutes.

’She took me into her home and you could tell that everything had gotten on top of her - it was a bit of a mess,’ said Mrs Farrell.

’She asked if I could stay while she had something to eat, and I did, which gave me peace of mind knowing that she’d had something.

’She called me her "angel" and put her arms out to me, asking if I could give her a hug, and I did.’

Mrs Farrell thinks that ’it’s imperative that people in situations such as this woman know that there are people such as IoM Community Food Donations who can help.’

She continued: ’I’d say the woman was in her late seventies to early eighties and she has no family here - they all live in Ireland.

’There clearly needs to be something put in place [by the government], I mean she told me that she’d reached out to the government and a health and social care setting and she’d been turned away from them.

’I just found it mortifying, to be sat there listening to that. She’d put herself through [Noble’s Hospital] Accident and Emergency and that’s how she ended up in hospital, she’s in quite a bit of pain with her legs so she’s not really able to walk around and do things for herself.

’She said to me that there had been a doctor who visited her Tuesday morning to discuss pain management with her and what they can do for her legs.

’She’s got swelling in the lower part of her legs with water retention and it’s quite painful. She was given a number on a card from the hospital which has the phone number of somebody on it and when she called them, she was told that if she wanted any extra care she would have to pay for it.

’She was in tears. Nobody should be treated like that.’

The woman herself told the Manx Independent: ’Late one evening April 26, I read a newspaper article in the Manx independent.

’The community work of Samantha and Gareth of Willaston was described.

’I read with amazement how I could be given muchneeded help.

’I had starved and worried day and night over months.

’There and then I telephoned Samantha. She came and brought me food - more noticeable was her compassion and generosity.

’These gifts are hidden in our torn and anxious world.

’Lovingly good wishes from a thankful creature.’

Mrs Farrell said that she’s delivered a microwave to the woman and has arranged for a cleaner to go to her flat.

’Every single thing in the flat is going to be cleaned, free of charge. I didn’t sleep last night just thinking about it all.

’There’s been so many lovely people wanting to help and donate to the cause. Even though the Facebook page was created for over lockdown, to be faced with that dilemma last night, I’m wondering how many more people are suffering in silence,’ she said.

Claire Christian MHK for Douglas South is helping Mrs Farrell to produce leaflets about the group to put through about 500 residents’ letter boxes.

Mrs Christian told the Manx Independent: ’I wanted to be able to help the organisation in some way because I think it’s vital that we reach out to support people who might not have the internet or access to social media.

’I’m waiting to hear back from a few businesses regarding the leaflets and plan to meet with Samantha this week to discuss what we can do to get the ball rolling with wider awareness.

’It’s shocking about the elderly woman’s experience - it highlights the need for some kind of "meals on wheels" in the island again.

’There is clearly a need.

’The IoM Community Meal Donations group is doing a fantastic, good thing for the community.

’The news story highlights how lots of constituents who don’t access the internet can easily be made aware of causes such as this and spreads the word.’

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