COMMUNITY volunteers at Friends of Meadowside are bidding to raise funds for a van to help those in need during the pandemic.
Launched three years ago Friends of Meadowside was an idea by Helen Davies, who then brought her husband Mark on board to develop the group together and have now distributed the equivalent of 135,000 meals!
They are now a fully registered Community Interest Company with their daughter Alexandra, Kellie Rowley and others, who appointed Mark as chairperson and currently operate from a temporary home at Capesthorne Community Centre.
Mark said: “The idea was simple, to help the less fortunate in our town, with free food, free clothing, welfare help and generally a listening sympathetic ear, this was in March of 2018.
“We are now 2021, we have distributed the equivalent of over 135,000 meals, collected 1060 times, supporting domestic violence survivors, given out FREE pack lunches to children, given job applicants interview clothes, raised money for a child diagnosed with cancer to go to Germany for treatment, fun days, fairs.”
Mark added: “This pandemic and other situations like the Warrington flooding has shown that groups similar to us are more needed than ever needed and as we move into what we hope will be a community hub on Festival Avenue, we intend to help more people with support, with a women’s support group, free courses, food classes etc
“We are now trying to raise funds to get a van for our food collections.
Mark concluded: “We are also very thankful for the support we have from Professor Stephen Broomhead, and others at Warrington Borough Council, Tony Higgins, Chris Skinkis, Cheshire opcc with David KEANE, ASDA, Morrisons, ALDI, Tesco, Fareshare, Neighbourly food, Torus Foundation and of course the people of Warrington.”
Donations to help raise funds to cover the costs of hiring a van can be made via https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/pleading-and-needing-a-van
