School's snow day offers residents a festive feast

WINTER weather may have caused chaos on the roads but it brought out the best in people in Port Talbot.

Dyffryn Comprehensive School had planned to have a staff training day and ordered in a hot buffet to feed the teachers.

But, because of heavy snow that fell overnight, the majority of the staff were unable to make it in to work.

So, rather than let the food go to waste, the school decided to donate the buffet to the residents of the Swyn-y-Mor care home on Scarlet Avenue.

The package included a range of cut sliced meats, potatoes, pasta and gateaux, all put together by The Lodge Cafe in Neath.

Swyn-y-Mor activities co- ordinator Vena George said the residents, ranging in age from 60 to 104 years old, were over the moon after receiving an early Christmas present.

She said: "They were really pleased.

"It was big enough to feed 90 people.

"There's a selection of meats and salads, desserts and pasta dishes and rice dishes.

"When we had the phone call this morning I had to dash round to the kitchens and say, 'don't do anything for this afternoon'.

"The residents are really happy with it.

"It has all gone down very well.

"It is really appreciated that Dyffryn School chose to think of us."

Bosses at Swyn-y-Mor had been planning on taking 17 of the residents out for a Christmas meal yesterday afternoon.

But, with the arrival of heavy snowfall, it looked like the trip may have to be put on hold.

However, thanks to the unexpected donation, the residents still had their slice of Christmas cheer.

Ms George said: "This morning some of the gentlemen had been at their windows with their binoculars looking over the sea.

"One of our residents stays in her room, so we went outside and took her a snowball.

"She was so happy she threw the snowball at the carer.

"She had her own snowball fight in her room.

"We took the snow to her and she was over the moon.

"This weather seems to bring out the best in people.

"The buffet was a really nice treat for them."

Dyffryn Comprehensive School spokeswoman Paula Durnell said: "Unfortunately, because a lot of the staff couldn't come in, we decided that because the buffet was being delivered this morning we would donate it to a nursing home.

"We thought it would give the ladies and gentlemen a nice Christmas treat from Dyffryn School.

"The food would have been for teaching and non-teaching staff.

"We thought we would donate it rather than let it go to waste."

Carmelina Ford is the proprietor of the Lodge Cafe which prepared and delivered the food, and had been up since 4am working on the buffet.

She said: "The snow has affected us because a lot of things were cancelled, but I am so happy about the buffet going to the care home.

"I think it is fabulous.

"It is a fabulous gesture on the part of the school and I am sure it was welcomed by the residents too."

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