Great-great grandma, 89, is baking hundreds of pies to feed hungry children
She might be 89 but that hasn’t stopped this pensioner from making hundreds of pies in lockdown.
Flo Osborne sparked into action after the pandemic meant she was forced to stay inside.
Rather than mope about, the great-great grandmother fired up the oven in her sheltered accommodation and began helping those in need.
The pensioner has now answered Marcus Rashford’s call to feed hungry children over half-term, calling the footballer’s campaign a ‘lovely idea’.
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‘I have been baking pies throughout lockdown to help vulnerable people in the community, and I love doing it,’ she told the Harwich and Manningtree Standard.
‘But I thought, I would love to help the little ones, too. I’ve even been thinking about baking miniature pies for the children.
‘Some people say I’m mad, but I just tell them that I love to help other people. If I can help them, I will.’
Her sweet and savoury treats are being enjoyed by the vulnerable in and around Harwich, Essex, who have also been forced to isolate.
Back in March, her son Graham asked if she could bake a couple of pies to help a local charity, and seven months later she is still going strong.
‘Mum absolutely loves it,’ he said. ‘She has only been out about four times since the lockdown began so this gives her something to wake up for.
‘She calls them the “old folk” even though most of them are younger than her. She doesn’t want any money, she just wants to help people in need.’
The pastry-covered delights have been delivered by the North Essex Support Team who distribute them along with other food.
Founder Les Nicoll, 69, praised Flo for her inspiring efforts.
He said: ‘This is a remarkable act of community kindness and a huge victory over age and supposed infirmity.
‘Every pie is made from scratch and cooked in her tiny oven for us to distribute to the vulnerable and elderly.
‘This wonderful lady has done incredible work and is an inspiration.’
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