The Douglas Shire Meals on Wheels has been gifted a much-needed generous donation from local business, Newell Beach Takeaway.

After hearing of the charity organisation’s struggle after losing some of its fundraising streams due to COVID, owner of the Newell Beach Takeaway, Peter Capp stepped up to help.

“I was talking to the ladies from Meals and Wheels and they said for some time earlier in the year when COVID restrictions had forced pubs to close, they had been unable to host their normal meat try raffle fundraiser at the Exchange Hotel,” he said.

To help make up for some of that lost coin, Mr Capp decided to hold a fundraiser through his shop, donating one dollar from every piece of fish or burger sold for the month of September.

“We came up with a total of $1300 for the month so hopefully they can use it for a good cause,” Mr Capp said.

Douglas Shire Meals on Wheels Vice president, Jill Bellero, said they are extremely grateful with every little bit making a big difference.

“It goes towards paying for the staff for cooking, all the food, and the running of the organisation,” she said.

“It means that we can keep going and providing meals for people around the district.”

Once restrictions on pubs relaxed the Meals on Wheels team were soon back in action with their meat try raffle, supplied by Mossman Meats, at the Exchange Hotel in Mossman, where you can find them every Friday at 5:30pm.

Mr Capp encouraged the community to get behind Meals on Wheels and other similar organisations whose fundraisers have been limited this year.

“I think Meals on Wheels is a very important organisation within the Shire so anything that anybody can do to help them and other organisations, is just so important, especially with COVID. It has restricted a lot of things in the Shire and even though we are starting to get back to normal, every little bit helps.

“I think it’s really important to give back to the community that supports you,” he said.