Maclean's Highland Bakery is donating products to NHS facilities during the coronavirus lockdown
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A LOCAL businessman is delivering free products to health facilities to show appreciation for the NHS.
Last week, Maclean's Highland Bakery managing director Lewis Maclean dropped off fresh bread at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness and this week visited Forres Health and Care Centre, with plans to stop in at Dr Gray's, Elgin too.
He said: "We'd like to donate to any NHS facilities during the lockdown and we are open to nominations or requests.
"There are a lot of real good people working on our behalf, some unseen, so we aim to try and put a wee smile on their faces to let them know they are appreciated. Not all heroes wear capes!"
The staff at Forres Health Centre thanked MacLeans as well as other businesses and individuals who have made donations of everything from food and personal protective equipment to hand sanitiser, cream and cleaning products.
Practice manager, Fiona Harris, said: "The generosity has touched all of our staff and has been gratefully received.
"We passed on the kind donation of bread and biscuits from MacLeans to some of the vulnerable patients in our community who were due to be visited by healthcare staff. We are aware that many of these patients are in the high risk categories and therefore must stay at home to protect themselves from coronavirus."
She added: "We would also like to thank our patients in Forres for their perseverance and continued adherence to the lockdown measures, as this will help with the containment of the virus in our local community.
"We have also been touched by the many supportive messages we have received from the community. Also, the Clap for Carers applauding, playing the bagpipes, etc to honour the NHS and other key workers has been an emotional tribute felt by many of our staff."
Maclean's are using ingredients from baking ingredients manufacturer Ireks, who are providing bakers with free spelt and honey to make goodies for key workers during the Covid-19 lockdown.
An Ireks spokesperson said: "All those who are on the front line in the fight against the coronavirus, from health workers to public servants, are earning plaudits for their brave and tireless work with good reason.
"If bakers want to support these heroes of today, to make them smile after a long day of hard work, all they have to do is get in touch with us. We will supply our product completely free of charge, if they bake it for free and pass it on to all the nurses, doctors, public servants, truck drivers etc. out there."
Mr Maclean is more than happy to take advantage of the offer and bake his appreciation for frontline staff during lockdown.
He added: "We are currently operating at 25-30 per cent of the level we would be normally. We have had to furlough a lot of good staff but from the start of May we will start to take some more colleagues back in a very controlled manner, complying with all Covid-19 guidance.
"It's going to be a very challenging year for everyone."
