Praise for the Westbury community

A local councillor has paid tribute to the Westbury community for its response to the current crisis.

Sheila Kimmins said Westbury “has come together as a community to help those who are in need.”

“We are all living in concerning and strange times the like we have never experienced before, and yet the emergency has brought Westbury together as a community,” cllr Kimmins told White Horse News.

“At this time Westbury Town Council are packing and delivering over 80 food boxes a week.  Every day all the local supermarkets are donating food for the boxes, local large companies are donating cereal and butter and volunteers are packing and delivering the boxes.

“The Neighbourhood Phone Line is manned daily to take orders for boxes supplied by the Town Council and a local farm shop, which volunteers deliver.   All this was set up within four days after Lockdown and following the closure of the Food Bank and Community Fridge.

“Steve Hubbard the local area coordinator for Westbury and Dilton Marsh is working closely with Westbury Town Council to identify those families that are in need and volunteers have been matched with residents and are undertaking shopping for them on a regular basis.

“To aid the Town Council money has been donated by The Lions, Rotary, POP-CAN and members of the public and town councillors.

“Westbury and District Link Scheme has contacted 400 users to ensure they are well and their needs being met.  Westbury Library has contacted the members who use the Outreach Service for those who are housebound to check that they are also safe.

“A number for streets throughout the town and local businesses  have set up their own link system to ensure that neighbours have contact numbers for those in the street who are able to collect shopping, prescriptions and even take a pet to the vets or help in any way.

“Some of the shops within the town have stayed open, and are offering a delivery service when large stores have closed.  There are manufacturers who are now producing PPE for the NHS.

“Communication via social media and the internet has helped spread information, especially the White Horse News.

“The problems are massive and unpredictable as to which way they will go. Families have no pay cheques coming in and do not know for how long, yet Westbury has come together as a community to help those who are in need.

“The White Horse News wishes to hear about local heroes – perhaps we should nominate the whole of Westbury!”