Robertson County Connection
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Businesses help senior community during COVID-19 shutdown




Hot meals along with bags of supplies were delivered to those in need by two catering companies in White House last week. SUBMITTED

Hot meals along with bags of supplies were delivered to those in need by two catering companies in White House last week. SUBMITTED

Two bakeries in Robertson County have come together to help the community during the Covid-19 crisis. 

 

To help people in need of access to food over the next few weeks, The Bakery Box and It’s a Pear catering services have prepared over 40 meals for free delivery. The companies have also given away bags of groceries to some of the most vulnerable citizens in White House, Portland, Greenbrier, Cross Plains, Ridgetop and Orlinda. 

 

Cynthia Summers, owner of The Bakery Box, was already involved in the tornado relief efforts in Nashville when she was contacted by several nurses hoping to arrange meals for family members isolated in their homes. Summers reached out on social media for names of other local elderly and shut-ins who may need assistance with food during the Covid-19 crisis. 

 

“I’m a busy-body,” Summers said; “I can’t sit still.” 

 

Hearing about her new project, It’s a Pear Catering Company in White House reached out to help as well. 

 

“All of our events for the month had cancelled. I wanted to do something to help,” said Kim Jones, owner of It’s a Pear. “Two kitchens are better than one.”

 

“We have a great working relationship,” Summers said of the partnership. “We support each other.”

 

Next week the team hopes to bring food to all 36 residents of the elderly housing complex in White House along with other individuals identified by churches and neighbors. Elderly, frail, disabled, and families with small children are eligible. 

 

Local volunteers are still needed to assemble the packages and make the deliveries in the coming weeks. All food is prepared in the commercial kitchens of the catering companies, and all deliveries are made by porch drop-off with no physical contact between the recipients and the drivers. 

 

Summers said the first round of deliveries was well received. 

 

“The food was desperately needed,” she said. “Some people didn’t have anything. I didn’t realize the [scope of the] need.”

 

The meals were placed into single serving dishes that can be frozen. Each came with a hot meal of chicken and dumplings or navy beans with ham and a full bag of other necessities including eggs, milk, bread, cereal, snacks and fruit to be eaten over the coming days. Cakes4U added a cupcake and bread or rolls to each meal. 

 

Summers called each person ahead of the delivery. She said some refused, suggesting that their meals instead be given to someone in greater need. 

 

Food and funds have been donated toward the efforts including one anonymous donation of enough meats to be used for next week’s deliveries. 

 

Anyone wishing to make a food or monetary donation can contact The Bakery Box at 109 Reid Way in White House (615) 289-0555 or It’s a Pear Catering at 110 Circle Drive in Cottontown (615) 604-2683. Delivery drivers are needed as well as donations of dried goods such as beans, rice, potatoes and pasta.

 

“It’s what we do – we pull together in time of need,” Jones said. 

An anonymous donor provided enough meats for the meals to be prepared next week.

An anonymous donor provided enough meats for the meals to be prepared next week.

Hot meals included chicken and dumplings, BBQ, beans and ham along with sides and fresh-baked bread. 

Hot meals included chicken and dumplings, BBQ, beans and ham along with sides and fresh-baked bread. 

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