‘Helping in Tenterden’, the community ‘umbrella’ organisation helping alleviate the impact of Covid-19 in and around the town, has got off to a tremendous start.
Within the first week of the organisation being established….
- 160 volunteers had been signed up
- 93 appeals for help had been received and actioned, and
- A sophisticated zoning system had been set up, matching volunteers to those seeking help.
‘Helping in Tenterden’ is a joint venture involving Tenterden Town Council, Ivy Court Surgery, St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden Social Hub, Tenterden Community Hub and MyTenterden.
Based at the Social Hub in Church Road, volunteers are already shopping for elderly, self-isolating residents and in the coming days, a system of befriending telephone calls will be set up, ensuring that everyone is helped and comforted.
The immediate and most urgent need is to ensure that the Food Bank bins, located at St Mildred’s, Tesco and Waitrose are constantly replenished. ‘Helping in Tenterden’ is delivering five-day supplies of food and essentials to the most-needy families.
Waitrose has donated fresh vegetables to ‘Helping in Tenterden’, collected for distribution by Canon Lindsay Hammond of St Mildred’s, and all donations of food, or money to buy food, would be very welcome.
Said Town Clerk Phil Burgess: “Helping in Tenterden are mobilising the town’s resources and people to ensure that nobody is left behind, and the response to our appeal for volunteers has been absolutely tremendous.
“But we still need more, including volunteers willing to walk the dogs of people who cannot leave their homes.”
New volunteers should telephone the Town Hall on 01580 762271 between 9am-5pm. The main requirement is for fit and healthy adults over the age of 18, although there is also a need for those aged 70+ who can volunteer without leaving home.
For the latest on the campaign, and for up-to-date information on how volunteers, shops and supermarkets are helping to combat the impact of the pandemic, visit www.helpingintenterden.co.uk