Epicurium fuels COVID-19 health workers with snack donations

A healthy snack distributor is powering frontline workers through the coronavirus outbreak with hundreds of nutritious donations.

Epicurium has sent wellness food parcels to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Hartlepool’s Alice House Hospice.

And, after the success of its initial foray, the company, based in Consett, County Durham, is aiming to make donations to further organisations over the coming weeks.

Its deliveries have included more than 400 individual packs of ‘on-the-go’ healthy snacks, and Michael Ratheram, Epicurium customer engagement manager, described its support for health workers as a “no-brainer.”

He said: “We thoroughly appreciate and acknowledge the incredibly important roles frontline staff are playing in combating COVID-19.

“It’s a time where we all need to work together and assist each other and as a company we wanted to give something back to frontline staff and say thank you for their outstanding work.

“We hope our small gesture will provide them with a little wholesome pick-me-up and a boost of energy.”

Fellow County Durham firm Concept IT, which has provided fully-managed IT services to Epicurium for six years, is backing the donation campaign.

Managing director Kevin Embleton put the wholesaler in touch with Alice House Hospice and has contacted numerous charities and healthcare providers who are clients of the firm and would benefit from Epicurium’s support.

Sandra Britten, deputy chief executive at the hospice, which is preparing to receive COVID-19 patients from hospitals, said: “Epicurium’s very kind donation was hugely appreciated by all members of staff.

“Our team are working extremely hard seven days a week, 24-hours-a-day through the coronavirus pandemic to ensure that essential hospice inpatient and homecare services are delivered during this very difficult time.

“The kindness which Epicurium has shown has given everyone in the hospice an extra boost, especially those who are having to spend time away from their families.”

Kevin added: “Everyone is suffering but it’s in times like these that you can measure an organisation – the desire to help and support is a human instinct that we can all use to create good.

“If we all work together then all of our local businesses will be stronger once this is over.”