Storrington Support Hub donates to local people in need

Storrington in need to get Waitrose gift vouchers

£750 of donations made via the Storrington Covid-19 Support Hub are being given to local people in need.

The Support Hub, managed by the Storrington-based Neighbourhood Wardens and facilitated by Storrington Community Partnership, was able to contribute £415 including a single donation of £210 by Odette Holmes, owner of the Plant Emporium Storrington on-line store. Odette raised money from sales of crochet rainbows. The Storrington Waitrose Store added a further £335 from it’s Community Matters scheme.

The money, in the form of Waitrose gift vouchers, was handed over to Kathryn McCarthy of Horsham Matters by Vicky Ravaudet, a Waitrose Store Partner.

Kathryn McCarthy said:

From 2014 to April 2020, we had been running a weekly foodbank in Storrington – firstly at the Children and Family Centre, then at the Trinity Methodist Church. Clients needed to obtain a voucher from one of our partner agencies, and then redeem it at the foodbank. At the start of the pandemic, we had to close all our foodbank centres. Referral agencies and clients then contacted us directly, and we delivered a food parcel to the client’s home usually within 24 hours. We cover the whole of Horsham District.

In September, we made a tentative start in reopening our foodbanks, but of course as we are now back in lockdown, we have reverted again to a home delivery model.

From April to October this year, we have fed 230 people in Storrington – 170 adults and 60 children. Demand for our service is rising all over Horsham District, Storrington is no exception.

Thank you so much for raising money for Horsham District Foodbank and for our Storrington clients in particular. These vouchers will make a lovely addition to our food parcels, especially in the run up to Christmas. They will allow our Storrington clients to purchase some little extras for themselves and for their children.

In the photo, left to right:

Louise Hayton (Chair, Storrington Community Partnership and administration for the Storrington Community Support Hub)

Steve Christian (Storrington & Sullington Neighbourhood Warden, Supervisor of Storrington Community Support Hub)

Odette Holmes (private donor, the Plant Emporium Storrington)

Kathryn McCarthy (Horsham Matters)

Vicky Ravaudet (Partner, Storrington Waitrose)

Chris Poore (Storrington & Sullington Neighbourhood Warden, Supervisor of Storrington Community Support Hub)

Russell Ingram (Storrington Waitrose Store Manager)