WOKINGHAM charities and council bosses have pulled together to set up a community hub for the town.
The centre was set up in the past few days to help vulnerable, elderly or isolated people to get the essentials they need during the coronavirus crisis.
Food, toiletries and other bits and pieces will be available from the hub’s base at St Crispin’s leisure centre in Wokingham.
READ MORE: All the latest coronavirus updates
But the hub -- set up by Wokingham Borough Council, Citizens Advice, Involve, Wokingham Foodbank, Age UK and many more organisations -- needs more donations.
Any residents with extra food, toiletries and other essentials can drop them off for collection at St Paul’s Parish Rooms, Reading Road, Wokingham.
READ MORE: Will you be clapping for the NHS tonight?
The donation centre is open daily from 9.30am to 2pm and other drop-off points will be set up soon.
Items wanted include:
- Tea, coffee and sugar
- Rice, pasta, flour
- Crisps, biscuits, crackers, snack bars
- Any tinned food and pasta sauces
- Cleaning, personal hygiene and washing-up products
- Nappies, wipes and children’s toiletries
- Cat and dog food
The community hub is also looking for volunteers to help with the new supplies.
If locals are interested in helping out, they should contact the Wokingham Volunteer Centre whose organisers will then be in touch.
READ MORE: Councillor sent two council tax reminders
If you are in need of support or know someone who is, Citizens Advice can be contacted on 0300 330 1189 for more assistance.
Wokingham Borough Council leader John Halsall told the News: “The council is the first line of defence for residents and it is operating normally.”
In response to the coronavirus lockdown, staff from non-essential departments have been moved to other areas to help where it is most needed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here