Coronavirus Kent: Gravesend Chinese takeaway donates £600 worth of food to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford
15:23, 01 April 2020
updated: 15:26, 01 April 2020
A Chinese takeaway donated more than £600 worth of food to staff at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford.
China Garden, located on Windmill Street in Gravesend, wanted to help the hospital before it closed last Saturday following government guidelines to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
The restaurant director, Kim Yip, had been trying to contact Darent Valley Hospital for a few days prior to the shop's closure.
The 39-year-old said: "We really wanted to donate to the hospital, but I had a hard time getting a response because, obviously, they're really busy.
"However, we finally got a reply on Sunday morning asking if we were still happy to donate.
"We were asked if the food would come in containers so it could be easily shared out between wards, and of course each dish does.
"The hospital and its staff were really grateful."
China Garden is one of many restaurants and individuals to have donated food and gifts to the hard working NHS staff at Darent Valley Hospital.
Tara Biggs created a Go Fund Me page so staff could enjoy Domino's pizza and Miss Gravesham collected donations from big brands to support the NHS workers.
Kim, who has been with the China Garden for the last seven and a half years, added: "After we closed, two chefs, a waitress and myself stayed behind to prepare the food.
"I took everything up to the hospital to deliver it.
"Altogether we donated five boxes, usually each box costs around £120 for a standard takeaway, so we probably donated around £600 worth of food."
Kim's original Facebook post reached more than 21,000 people.
His post said: "China Garden wanted to do our bit for the hard working NHS staff at Darent Valley Hospital.
"We hope everyone enjoys our complimentary meal and a big thank you to my staff that helped."
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