Rekz reopens his community fridge for families in need
Shop’s food lifeline back up and running with new rules
A kindhearted shopkeeper has reopened his Community Fridge and Cabinet to Buddies struggling during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Rekz Afzal, 35, temporarily suspended the lifeline source of free food to those struggling to feed their families, to comply with strict government coronavirus rules on social distancing.
Since then, Rekz has been busy organising and distributing 100 free packs of food to the most vulnerable families in the area during the lockdown.
But the news that the vital Moss Street Community Fridge and Cabinet is back up and running will be welcomed by those struggling to find food during the epidemic, which is hitting the poorest and most vulnerable in the community hardest.
Hardship-stricken folk requiring emergency items should be able to visit the store to request items, stocks permitting, as long as they follow health guidelines regarding the two-metre distancing rule, and are only leaving the house for a necessary reason.
Rekz said: “The fridge and cabinet are back up and running, so people can come to the store and request items.
“They have to ask me for items, respecting the social distancing measures, and I will select and bag the foods for them.
“This depends on how much stock I have, as I rely on donations, as well as funding stocks out of my own pocket.”
Rekz renewed appeals for generous Buddies to hand in goods at his store which will go to homes where people are struggling the most, including the elderly and those on benefits.
He added: “I am just the little guy doing all that I can to help the people of Paisley.
“A lot of the big supermarkets are running food collections for foodbanks and charities.
“So, please bear in mind that I deeply appreciate all the donations of food that people and businesses can offer in keeping this resource going.”
Rekz was helped by volunteers to distribute donations of fruit and veg to 100 families in the town, including those self-isolating.
Anyone who can spare tinned goods, pasta, noodles, rice, coffee and tea can drop them off at the store during business hours.
Donations are warmly welcomed.
I deeply appreciate all the donations of food that people and businesses can offer