The county council's food service and meals on wheels staff have been working round the clock to make sure hot meals are distributed to people affected by the storm as well as providing invaluable support to the reception centre at North Cumbria Technology College over the last few days.
An additional 11 members of staff from Cumbria Contract Services Premises Unit have been working at the reception centre serving hot meals and providing 24 hour support. Around three hundred people needed overnight accommodation there and the centre has served thousands of hot meals to many hundreds of householders affected by the flooding.
Staff have also been supporting the 12 hour food distribution centre set up at Norman Street School in Carlisle. Most of the people using this centre are local householders who are starting to tackle the aftermath of flooding in their homes. Food service staff are continuing to cook and deliver hot meals to residents in the worst affected areas in the City. More staff came into work to make sure that meals on wheels continued to be served to some of the most vulnerable people affected by the flooding. Staff not only delivered a hot meal but provided welfare support to those clients.
Additional staff were also working at Police HQ in Penrith and Carlisle Castle to make sure that all agency staff, including the Police and Fire Service, dealing with the effects of the storm were fed and watered.
County councillor Tim Heslop, spokesman for Cumbria Contract Services said:
"I am hugely impressed by the support given by the county councils food service and meals on wheels staff to the hundreds of people affected by the flood. Staff have done a fantastic job working extremely long hours. Even though the reception centre is now closed, staff will continue to deliver hot food and drinks and comfort to those who need it. We owe them a great deal of thanks."
Clive Pickering, Director of Cumbria Contract Services said:
"Our Premises staff have been fantastic. They have reacted quickly and positively at a critical time and I know that their efforts have been appreciated by everyone involved. I would like to express my sincere thanks for everything they have done."