‘Support provides an example of this community spirit’

I WRITE on behalf of the Trustees of Haregate Community Centre in response to the letter, published last week from Cllr Joe Porter.

We are most grateful to Mr Porter and all the other volunteers who are facilitating deliveries to their parishes and rural communities, along with all the old and new volunteers who have stepped forward during this crisis and not least our fantastic staff.

We are also most grateful for all the donations we have received both of goods and cash from local individuals, business, individual councillors through their discretionary funds, Leek Town Council and SMDC. The whole community has really come together to support each other in these most difficult times.

There are, however two things which we feel we should point out.

Firstly the fruit and vegetables we distribute are sourced primarily from the local wholesalers Freshview and are delivered to us on the days that they are distributed to our clients.

This is augmented by generous donations from local supermarkets and individuals and from our membership of the Fareshare scheme.

We wish to make it clear that we do not claim that these goods are supplied by local farmers and producers.

Secondly we would like to clarify our pricing structure and the support that all the kind donations have made to it.

Community Cupboard has been running successfully for a number of years supplying fruit and veg bags for £3 each.

However they have always been available for a donation to people in difficult financial circumstances.

When the centre was open this was supplemented by a table of produce that could be picked up for a donation.

The Community Cupboard has always been run on a not for profit basis.

During this crisis the costs of supplies and delivery costs have increased and now the average cost of a bag has increased well above our previous £3.

Demand and therefore distribution costs have also increased as people who are self isolating need the food delivering to them.

We are also well aware that many more people are under significant financial pressure so everything is now being run on a donation basis (suggestion £3). Some can afford the £3 and some cannot. We are taking this on trust and do not believe that this trust is being abused.

These increases, along with the expenses of operating our additional services of shopping and distributing donated frozen meals, prescription delivery, telephone support etc. and the change in pricing strategy are what these generous grants and donations are being used for.

We would like to thank again all who are supporting the Centre during these challenging times. Our staff and volunteers are really working so hard to meet the needs of our local communities and we owe them our heartfelt thanks.

We operate in a wonderful community and in these times this support for each other really does provide an example of this community spirit.

John Belfield Trustee Haregate Community Centre