Bognor community group working to keep children and other vulnerable people fed

Thanks to the work of selfless community groups and individuals, we are being given reasons to smile.

The coronavirus hasn’t stopped Grandads Front Room’s Danny Dawes from doing his bit in Bognor Regis.

With children off school and some not receiving their usual free meals, Danny is working to keep them fed.

He said: “We have ordered 39 £10 mixed fruit and vegetable boxes from Crimsham Farm to give to Edward Bryant School to be passed onto those families that usually receive free school meals.

“These children usually receive their most substantial meal of the day at school and they now don’t so any help we can give as a community is hugely important.”

Danny said, thanks to the help of UK Harvest, the front room had a sufficient supply of fruit and vegetables to ‘help alleviate some of the worry’ for families and individuals in the community.

He said the team drove a van around the community on Monday, ringing a ‘large school hand bell’.

“You bring out a carrier bag and all we ask is that you only take what you truly require,” Danny said ahead of the drive.

“Lets all be fair in these difficult times.

“The further we stand apart physically the closer together we will become as a community.”

Danny, who has asked other schools to get in touch, said Bognor Regis Town Council has donated £500 to assist families in the community with fruit and vegetables.

“The Bognor Regis Foodbank with Sue and Mandy and the team are stalwarts of this community and we hope that we can, with their assistance and advice, back up the fantastic work that they do and have done for so so long,” he continued.

“Many people have lost an income stream and so this support will make a huge difference.

“Thank you to the mayor Phil Woodhall, his fellow councillors and to Sheila, the town council’s projects officer, who has been invaluable in securing this lifeline.”

Crimsham Farm CIC was acknowledged for putting ‘many many hours’ on the front line to deliver food to people in the community confined to their homes.

In one of many feedback messages, Danny was told by one NHS worker that the offer of fruit and vegetable was ‘simply amazing’.

“I cannot begin to tell you,” she added.

“I work at St Wilfrid’s Hospice and we have opened our beds to offload the weight of St Richard’s, helping to care for non palliative patients as well as our own patients. It’s a testing times for many.

“This will take a huge strain off of us thank you so much.”

Homeless charity Stonepillow, meanwhile, has helped to get two personal friends of Danny off the street and into accommodation for the duration for the coronavirus crisis.

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