Established in 2012 by non-for-profit organisation Harrogate Neighbours, the Harrogate & Ripon Food Angels is a meals on wheels service. They were notified of the accolade in June 2020 but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the awards ceremony was put on hold until last week.
Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said: “We are delighted to have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. To be recognised to this degree is testament to our incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to deliver such an important service into our community.
“The number of daily meals continues to rise as we support even more people in the community who were forced to shield as a result of the pandemic. Receiving the award on behalf of the staff and volunteers from Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire was an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved.”
A team of dedicated people prepare and deliver over 150 fresh, hot meals every day to the elderly, socially isolated and people who were forced to shield in North Yorkshire.
Mr Robert Jones, a client of the Harrogate & Ripon Food Angels, added: “I look forward to receiving my meals from the Food Angels; it is very reassuring to have someone check in on me each day and the selection of meals is excellent and very well prepared. The volunteers who deliver the meals are lovely people and our little chats brighten up my days.
“All through the bad weather this winter they have never failed to deliver and they even brought me my lunch on Christmas Day, at the same time entertaining me with a Christmas carol. Thank you for the rays of sunshine they bring with the lunches.”