Feeding the frontline


In normal circumstances, Operations Manager Rakesh would be delivering products and services to premium automotive customers from the Unipart Logistics site in Canley, UK. But these are not normal circumstances.

Since most of the UK automotive industry has temporarily had to shut down operations due to Covid-19, Rakesh – along with many of his colleagues in Canley – agreed to be furloughed.

Rakesh decided immediately that he would reach out to his local community in Leicester and find an opportunity to volunteer where he could learn new skills whilst supporting the NHS frontline workers.

Rakesh explains: “My name was put forward to pack food at the ‘More’ restaurant every day for the Leicester Hospitals Charity. Chefs cook food in the morning from around 8am to 12pm and we pack from 12pm to 4pm.

“NHS staff can place orders online and collect their food, free of charge between 3pm to 8pm. All the ingredients are donated by local businesses and all the work is done by volunteers. We have been packing around 300-400 parcels daily.

“There is also a separate part of the restaurant which packs food for the homeless and vulnerable in the city of Leicester. This is then delivered to them by the volunteers.

“In a nutshell I wanted to do selfless service, and help the NHS who are doing such a fantastic job.”