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Behind closed doors at a disused youth centre! Throughout out the Covid 19 crisis, many organisations, both voluntary and government funded have worked tirelessly to help those in need of support. Two such groups are Bookham Community Fridge and Surrey Local Resilience Forum. And in July, they came together under one roof! Borne out of a need to change their operating premises, the currently disused Bookham Youth Club was identified as a suitable location for both groups. The Food Hub for Surrey Resilience Forum relocated from Guildford and Bookham Community Fridge didn’t have quite so far to travel, relocating from Bookham Baptist Church. On July 28th time was set aside to welcome a number of visitors who were keen to see how things were going at their new home. Paul Woodhouse, Unit leader for Runnymede Volunteer Police Cadets was the first to arrive to open the doors of the vacant youth centre to welcome in Cadets from Epsom, Runnymede, Woking and Guildford. The youngsters have been busy packing food boxes that support shielding residents during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Food Hub receives bulk ambient (non perishable) food which is then sorted into boxes and distributed by SCC Community Transport providers across the county. As lockdown lifts, the number of boxes being sent out is lessening, but food parcels will continue to be provided to vulnerable residents and those who may be self-isolating and in urgent need of food. Whilst the cadets were busy beavering away with the food boxes of tinned and dry goods, in the back room, the team of Bookham Community Fridge volunteers and Mid Surrey Fridges CEO Clare Davies were stocking the newly relocated Community Fridge with fresh produce. Food which would usually go to waste and landfill is donated by local producers, catering companies, hospitals and supermarkets. The produce can be a whole selection of items including bread, vegetables, fruit (always including bananas!) and even some locally made jam. Surrey County Council chairman Tony Samuels, Mole Valley District Council Chairman Mary Huggins, Councillor Clare Curran, Jane Harwood cell lead for Resident Welfare and Volunteering for the Surrey Local Resilience Forum paid a visit to thank the cadets for all their hard work and to see
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