Ten Northamptonshire groups have been recognised for their hard work during the pandemic in feeding people and helping each other survive.
Northamptonshire Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has published a booklet of ‘Covid-19 community champions’.
There are 76 groups across the county recognised in the booklet, in a number of different categories.
All those nominated will be invited to join a virtual celebration next week.
Elaine O’Leary, chief executive of Northamptonshire ACRE said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the number of entries submitted and the quality and range of support these volunteers are providing to the most vulnerable people in their community.
“With everything that has happened over the past few months, we think it is important to showcase and celebrate the fantastic work going on in Northamptonshire.”
Here are the ten groups that were nominated for the ‘helping people to survive the pandemic’ category and more information about the work they have done.
9. Kelly Mercer – Kettering Food Bank
Kelly and her volunteers have run a food bank every day since 21st March, at the height providing support for 70 families facing lockdown and ramifications of redundancy since then, averaging 30 packages a day. Among the numerous expressions of thanks they have received there is a recurring theme that those helped do not know how they would have managed without the food bank and that Kelly and her team are so compassionate that no one is made to feel unworthy.
10. Bugbrooke
A number of volunteers came together wanting to help residents who had to self-isolate or were in an at risk group to ensure they could still access the food and prescriptions they needed. Volunteers were recruited to help deliver shopping and prescriptions but as the pandemic went on, it became clear that more families and older people needed additional support. Bugbrooke residents started to increase the number of food parcels delivered as well as including frozen meals that could be heated up when needed. Up to 30 volunteers came together to help deliver more than 2,000 food parcels and 1,500 frozen meals to approximately 50 households in the village during the pandemic. ACRE says: “It was a fantastic effort from the whole community.”