WESTBURY Food Project has developed over the last year from its beginnings as the Community Fridge to working with Warminster Food Bank to meet the needs of the community during the pandemic.
Westbury Town Council facilitated the progress of its development when it became increasingly obvious that so many of the community were in need.
Initially people were isolating in large numbers, many with no family or friend support, many were unable to access or use technology and financial difficulties became an increasing issue for many in the country, and not least in Westbury and surrounding villages.
Collaboration with local supermarkets Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons has resulted in donations being made to provide much needed food products including fresh fruit, vegetables, bakery products and flowers. Whilst the latter may not be viewed as a necessity one service user sent the following message to the team:
“Whoever put the roses in my box yesterday turned me around… It gave me the strength to leave the house and finally go to the doctors. I just wanted to call and say thank you to the food box guys, they are lifesavers.”
A Food Project spokesperson said, “Not only have the large supermarkets donated but also the residents in our community. People have donated products when doing their own shopping, they have called to the project at the market square to give bags full of food items, Christmas and Easter gifts – some beautifully homemade. This generosity of spirit epitomises the sense of community engendered in the people of Westbury and surrounding villages.
“This spirit of community is also evident in the number of volunteers who twice weekly collect donations, fill shelves, prepare food boxes dependent on the needs of the family or individual and deliver these around the area.
“Currently there are an average of 50 people each week receiving these donations. Volunteers are also behind the scenes working hard to develop networks and systems to support the project; this has identified that there will continue to be a need for this service and is likely to increase as the full effects of the pandemic on emotional wellbeing and the economy is fully realised.
“It is this sense of commitment to the community which has resulted in several volunteers making an application for Charitable Status, with a name change to Westbury Area Network. Volunteers report a sense of sadness that there is such an identified need but are humbled by the way in which the community has pulled together and the positive comments shared by the people receiving their support.
“Over the last 12 months there have been so many negative, sad and demoralising comments in both the local and national media; however we know that when facing such significant life changing events, our community will rise to the challenge.”
