A popular Dundee cafe is working hard to ensure no one goes without a good meal during the latest Covid-19 lockdown with a unique delivery service.
The Selkie on Exchange Street is handing out free meals to families who are struggling every Wednesday between 3pm and 6pm – and all people have to do is phone up and say “Auntie Nicky sent me”.
Kelly Fairweather, one of the owners of The Selkie, says she loves to feed people, and took inspiration from the generosity of her late aunt.
“We felt we needed to do something,” Kelly said. “I have put up a menu and people can choose whatever they want, just like a normal takeaway.
“But this is not a charity thing, it is just one mum helping out another.
“No one should be going hungry and it is depressing as it is at the moment, so it is nice to give people some food made with a bit of care.
“I am a total feeder and I see The Selkie as an extension of my own dining room.
“This is just food from my family to yours because wherever there is a hungry child, there is a hungry mum and dad.
“Mums will always feed their kids first. But if you are too embarrassed to say you need a hand, just say Auntie Nicky sent you.
“My Auntie Nicky died in May 2019 and she would have given someone the shirt off her back if they needed it, so this is a tribute to her.
“Now my emails are full of ‘Hi Auntie Nicky’ and it makes me cry, it is so nice she is still there and lots of people are talking about her.
“People are saying they have been furloughed and need a wee hand, or having the kids at home all day means the electricity metre is running up a lot more so they need some food.
“I don’t want anyone feeling they need to go through a criteria to get some help.
“If you need help you need help and it is not up to me or anyone else to judge them.”
So far The Selkie has sent out 167 different meals to 49 families across Dundee, with drivers from Zippy D taking the meals straight to their front door.
There is a range of soup, stovies, macaroni cheese, lentil dhal, chicken nuggets and chips, and home baking on offer, and Kelly says they can cater for gluten-free and vegan diets as well.
https://www.facebook.com/theselkiedundee/photos/a.108793904310965/209208240936197/
The cafe has also taken delivery of donations from others across the city and Kelly said: “We have had almost 600 people donating money.
“People have been really, really kind and the community has stepped up. One little girl gave us £1.40 and someone else gave us almost £100.
“People are buying meals for people they don’t even know even though times are hard for everyone right now, it is really kind.
“The people of Dundee have definitely come through and we definitely have enough money now to run for the next four weeks.
“I am just a mum of eight who loves feeding them and having their pals round for food, that’s where this crazy idea came from.”
The free meals can be ordered on a Wednesday afternoon by calling The Selkie on 01382 698210 or emailing hello@theselkie.scot
