Since the lockdown, Lynsey Chambers, 43, from Sprotbrough, Doncaster, has produced more than 1600 portions of home-made cake and buns for on duty staff, keeping her kitchen production line running six days a week to meet demand.
Lynsey, who worked as an Operating Department Practitioner at Doncaster’s Women’s Hospital before leaving to start a family and catering business – Parti Animals – 13 years ago, said: “On a typical day I’ll make 48 cupcakes, a double batch of brownies and a couple of lemon drizzle cakes, which are then portioned up in single use packaging.
“I started out using ingredients I had in stock but found some of them hard to replace, but since I posted what I’m doing on facebook I’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of local residents and other people who have donated flour, eggs, cocoa powder and other items to keep me going.”
The cakes are collected by Jerry Day, a Data Analyst within Infection Prevention and Control at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, where they are distributed to staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Montagu, Bassetlaw and Tickhill Road hospitals. Tickhill Road Hospital is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH).
The pair have been dubbed ‘Jerry and the Cakemaker’.
Lynsey has also taken some to her local surgery, supermarket and pharmacy and is determined to keep her oven going flat out for as long as she can.
“My reward comes from the comments and photos I’m receiving on line from key workers enjoying some of my baking with a cuppa in these difficult times. It makes it all worthwhile”, she said
Leana Gater, RDasH Health Visitor, said: “The cakes are going down so well! On behalf of my colleagues who have received a cake, ‘thank you’ Lynsey. “