People rallied round to help elderly and vulnerable people stuck at home, not only providing a hearty meal but a friendly face and a chat
The project started small at first and then expanded across Inverclyde feeding thousands of vulnerable people who couldn’t get out due to restrictions.
“We then decided to make proper meals and at the peak we were delivering 500/600 meals every day, starting around spring 2020.
“We made and delivered 33,000 over the Covid period. We had 30 volunteers who were cooking and drivers.
“There were three processes, cooking the food, packing it and delivering it.”
They couldn’t have done any of it without the services of local chefs like Shaun Salom and Connor Harrison.
The project also received funding from the Scottish Government and Inverclyde Council.
Branchton volunteers were also part of a bigger response working closely with Inverclyde Community Action Response Group(ICARG) set up by business figures Stephen Henry and Louise Hunter.
The project helped co-ordinate efforts across the district, bringing groups together, mobilising volunteers, fundraising and making sure no-one was left behind.
By the end they had helped cook and deliver tens of thousands of meals, set up a mental health campaign and brought people together
Willie said: “We worked along with ICARG, Stephen and Louise, they made a huge contribution and local businesses too like the Cafe Continental who were making 200 meals a day.”
Francie Quinn whose contribution was recognised by the Tele’s Overall Community Champion Award in 2023 said the experience was life-changing.
He started as a driver, then ended up doing a bit of everything.
Francie, 50, said: “I am related to Carol McEwan who was working here at the time and said she needed drivers, so I came along.
“I ended up co-ordinating all the drivers, there were 10 stations in the hall for all the runs each table with 40 meals”
“I loved it. I liked the camaraderie.
“It was just a good feeling, everyone came in working to the same end, to help people.
“It was weird time, people were locked up in the house and we were in here working 14 hours a day but it didn’t feel like work.
“Everyone was in it together. It doesn’t matter how long were were needed it could have been years, you knew you were coming in to help.
“We were delivering to a lot of older people and would spend 20 minutes talking to them. They were very grateful.”
Francie also became a dad again during Covid to beautiful baby girl Aria after partner Jayne Leck gave birth in a taxi on the way to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Little Aria is now getting ready to start St Mary’s Primary after the summer.
He said: “It changed my life, after volunteering it turned into a job for four and a half years – it blows my mind thinking about it.
“There was a great community spirit. Looking back at that time I struggle to get my head around how people were locked in their houses, I got a paid job for four and half years and became a dad again.
“It’s twilight zone stuff.”
Volunteer driver John Joe Mearns says he enjoyed the whole experience and giving back to the community.
The 68-year-old said: “I liked being part of a team and the weather was great.
“Everyone was always pleased to see you. You might have been the only person they spoke to the whole day.
“It was a happy time for me. I made a lot of new friends that I’ve kept – five years on.”
Mark Boyd, 39, was John Joe’s co-pilot and enjoyed doing the delivery runs with him.
He said: ” I enjoyed getting out and about and met new people.”
Willie added that Covid gave Branchton a bigger profile in Inverclyde and it also lead to 12 volunteers getting paid work.
Willie said: “I know it was very difficult time for people but I think the way we responded to Covid turned around our relationship with volunteers.”
This story is part of a series marking the UK’s Day of Reflection 2025, five years on from the Covid-19 pandemic.