Lewis Butchers & Deli , Greasby Colin Lunt Greengrocer , West Kirby
When the country went in to lockdown , the family butcher in Greasby closed down the shop and switched to a free Wirral-wide delivery service . Director Karen Lunt said : “ It was an immense challenge , basically setting up a new business in the space of a day , but it has gone well . I feel like I have circumnavigated the globe twice ! We gained new customers too , who appreciated the quality of our meat .
Many commented that now they ’ ve tried local , they wouldn ’ t go back to buying cheap supermarket food as they could taste the difference . I think lockdown had a profound effect on people and made them change the way they think about themselves and others . As the weeks went by I began to notice people wanted to talk more and I have really got to know customers as a result ”.
" The staff worked their socks off , doing home deliveries and going the extra mile to keep people supplied with quality produce . Hats off to Lewis ’ s !" Janet
Every Lesson Counts Tutoring , Bebington
For the first time in over 50 years of serving West Kirby with fresh fruit and veg , the greengrocer was forced to close during lockdown . They quickly set up a home delivery service and even received an order all the way from Australia ! Owner Matty Peers : “ A customer ' s daughter emailed from Australia with an order of groceries for her mum , as they had no-one else to turn to and their mum had not left the house in weeks . She was shocked and emotional when we turned up like Father Christmas with a box of goodies ! Often customers were grateful of the friendly face , as they hadn ’ t seen anyone all week ”. The greengrocer , located on Banks Road , also set up a pop-up shop nearby where customers could collect their fruit and vegetables .
“ I was shielding and they delivered all my fresh produce , plus anything else I needed from other shops . The deliveries arrived rain or shine and he always had a big smile and stopped for a chat - priceless ! I will be forever grateful for their support ”. Hazel
Rostherne ( Cross ) Nursery , Leasowe
With schools closed and parents facing the challenge of juggling their own jobs with home schooling , Every Lesson Counts stepped up to the plate during lockdown by setting up a virtual school with online Zoom lessons , daily assemblies , live art sessions , science experiments and much more . The tutoring agency , which has six centres around Wirral , offered the schooling for free to children of NHS workers , as well as anyone who was financially struggling , ensuring no child missed out .
” It is hard to put into words just how much they have done for us during these unprecedented times without becoming a complete emotional mess . As a family with a shielding child , these last months have been a challenge but ELC have pulled us through and kept us smiling daily . My children talk about the other students as if they have known them for years !” Jo
When the country first went in to lockdown , the nursery gave away thousands of pounds worth of bedding plants to customers , to help brighten up gardens that would be getting a lot of use in the coming months . Manager Diane Cross said : " Lockdown hit us as the worst possible time as spring and summer are our busiest seasons . But we ’ ve not been in business 72 years to give up without a fight !” The nursery set up popular delivery and ‘ click and collect ’ services , and cheered their customers up with regular Facebook posts , including their own celebration of World Naked Gardening Day !
“ Their efforts brightened the days of many who were shielding and were worried about their gardens . They created a Facebook page which gave easy-to-follow advice and was always fun . For people such as ourselves who self-isolated from March until August , they really brought us sunshine ”. Y . Schmack
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