VOLUNTEERS have been out delivering free hot meals to support vulnerable people and key workers during lockdown 3.

Co-owner of the Patriot’s Arms in Chiseldon Sunny Patel started a free meal service to serve those who need help in the village.

He has delivered around 400 meals to NHS workers, police staff, and elderly people since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the third lockdown earlier this month.

Sunny told the Adver: “This is my passion to support the community. I’ve seen a lot of elderly people who are struggling at home. They are in self-isolation, so they can’t come out.

“I own a store and a pub, so I can see that there’s a lot of help needed within the local community from providing free grocery shopping to delivering free hot meals.

“I think it’s my duty as human being and as a citizen, I have to give back to the community.”

Around seven volunteers help deliver chicken pasta, vegetarian, or chicken curry across the village.

Sunny added: “We would love to help the whole of Swindon, but we need more volunteers. But I don’t want a lot of volunteers to come out because of the current restrictions.”

The group has been helping the community ever since the country entered the first lockdown in March last year.

MP Robert Buckland said: “Sunny Patel, Sanjay and the team have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to help the community, and I was delighted to see the delivery of free meals to those vital emergency workers at GWH helping to administer the vaccine to the most vulnerable in our society.

“It was the most wonderful moment to see the handover of those meals, and I know it’s only the part of the hard work being done at the Patriot’s Arms to supply free meals daily to Blue Light workers in our Swindon community.

“My deep thanks and gratitude go to all the team at the Patriot’s for playing their part”