Just after the pandemic hit, an elderly man from west Wales went without food for days after his sister, who usually cared for him, was taken ill and rushed into hospital.
“Thank goodness, she was discharged, and was then able to call for help,” says Mike Theodoulou, chief executive of the Centre for Building Social Action (CBSA).
During the coronavirus crisis, the charity has been supporting people who know only too well what it means when kitchen cupboards are bare.
Mike, who is also a town councillor for Burry Port, says that even after 20 years with CBSA, he’s been shocked by how lockdown in his local community has highlighted families who’d simply fallen through the cracks.
The charity had been due to launch a tool library so low-income families could fix household appliances and decorate their homes, thanks to a £500,000 National Lottery grant spread over four years.
“When lockdown hit, we adapted our service, using our van to deliver food to families on the breadline,” says Mike. “We plan to carry on with this. With an economic downturn possible, rural residents may need it.
“Our volunteers have also been making masks, headbands and equipment bags for care workers and others.”
One of those volunteers is Jane Nicholas, 59. She says: “I have sewing skills I hadn’t used for years, and it’s lovely to feel I’ve been useful. Poverty levels in this area are shocking and it’s great that National Lottery players are able to make a difference.”
Today’s poem is by the irrepressible Laurie Wilkinson, 72, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, who sent this funny poem in after reading about my snoring pug dog keeping everyone awake.
Poet Laurie’s son served in the military for 10 years, and the proud dad has been donating everything he makes from his book sales to Help for Heroes since his first in 2014. The former East Ender just had his eighth book published, available from lauriewilkinson. com, and shows no signs of flagging…
One of my jobs this week has been writing Jesse’s entry for her end-of-school yearbook. It was all pretty straightforward – likes: sitting in the dark. Hates: everything – until I got to the dream job question.
Knocking on the door to her bedroom, or as I call it, The Edge of Darkness, I asked, “Hey Jesse, what’s your dream job, apart from making small children cry?”
A faint voice could be heard over pounding gangsta rap, as it lightly explored the themes of misogyny and gun crime.
“I want to be a racing driver, psychologist or lawyer,” she said, opening the door in a blast of bass.
“A racing driver?” I laughed. “You barely managed the three-wheeled scooter.”
“Typical!” she screamed. “You never support me and laugh at all my dreams,” before slamming the door so hard the house shook. Going back downstairs, I filled it in for her, “Dream job: Psychopath.” I’m here with you every day on our community pages bringing you funny readers’ letters, snaps and jokes, competitions to find the best-looking backyard, silliest pet selfie and today’s funny poetry corner.
I’d also love to hear about memories of your best ever UK staycations, and the retro toys, sweets, clothes or furniture that remind you of your childhood for our blasts from the past section.
Send the evidence to siobhan.mcnally@ mirror.co.uk or write to me at Community Corner, PO Box 791, Winchester SO23 3RP.
And finally, thank you for being a part of our community pages – we couldn’t do this without you.
Hey kids – you need to clean up your act!
Six-year-old pocket rocket Madison Plowman is calling on the nation’s children to crack on with the daily chores for pocket money – and donate it to help fight cancer.
Rallying kids with her cry to clean up and cash in, the youngster has snapped on the rubber gloves to wash up, vacuum the house and help her nurse mum weed the garden as a way to fundraise for Cancer Research UK.
The charity has seen a staggering 25% drop in funds due to the pandemic, and as a nurse working on the front line delivering cancer treatment, mum Amy knows how deeply those losses will be felt.
Amy, who lives in Southampton with husband Luke, Madison and their 18-month-old daughter Elsie, says: “One in two people will get cancer in their lifetime. I’m so proud of Madison for doing her bit, no matter how small, to help.” If you can help, please get involved at cruk.org/fundraise. I did suggest to the Dark Lord daughter that she might like to remove the top layer of the primordial swamp in her bedroom to reveal the crustacean period for charity.
The early signs are promising – she did bring down last year’s cereal bowls.
Mike is organising food parcels for people in need