Grant’s for the Needy

We have seen many stories of shops doing some fantastic things during this time of peril.

The owner of one of Norfolk’s most popular fish and chip shops has donated more than eight tonnes of potatoes as he is forced to close due to the coronavirus lock down.

Grant Zelos, owner of Mary Janes in Cromer, has been travelling to care homes in north Norfolk delivering potatoes and fish.

The 56-year-old said: “It’s been a hard decision but it is the right thing for the country and everything should be locked down. “I didn’t expect to close when I did and I had a few tonnes of potatoes. I thought ‘I don’t need them’, but there are a lot of care homes around with the elderly and sick, so I thought I’d give it all away.”

Mary Janes has been a family business for more than 40 years with Mr Zelos starting work with his parents in 1977. The business is run with his son, daughter and son-in-law, and they wanted to give something back to the community.

“Me and my son went around to any care home that answered the phone and kept filling the van up and going round,” he added.

“I started handing bags to people I knew who couldn’t get out of the house, family, friends and even people just wandering the streets. I asked if they wanted fish as well.

“We’ve always done what we can for the community, just to try to give back what they have given.”

Mr Zelos’ charity comes at a time when many businesses will be cutting costs and facing an uncertain future. But he says in these tough times people need to come first.

He added: “I’ve gone countless miles and I’m stiff and sore from lifting potatoes around but I think we’ve helped a lot of people.”

“I’ve given at least 1.5 tonnes of potatoes out and seven stone of cod and haddock. It’s things that would have perished but I thought ‘what’s the point, people need food’.

“Money doesn’t matter in this time, everyone’s taking a hit, a lot more people are worse off than I am and I just wanted to do my bit for the community.”

Mary Janes, in Garden Street, Cromer is closed for the foreseeable future.

What have you done to help others in this time of need? Email austen@ chippychat.co.uk Mary Janes donates food to the community.

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