There has been an extraordinary community response in Westbury to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As people stayed at home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, local volunteers leapt into action to support vulnerable residents across Westbury. The community has rallied around like never before by going the extra mile and helping those in need.
There have been countless heart-warming cases of people helping their neighbours, businesses helping those on the front line and those isolating at home and people giving to those in need or organising online fund-raising events to support local charities and organisations.
“The reaction to this pandemic has been awe-inspiring in terms of volunteer numbers, efficiency, and sheer willingness to help,” said Westbury Town Council’s events manager Ryan Child. “It just shows what can be done when a community works together to help one another.”
Four days after the lockdown measures were announced, Westbury Town Council was out delivering essential food boxes to residents in need. Since then, they have delivered around 600 food boxes, with the help of the outstanding volunteers who have stepped forward to assist their neighbours.
This was made easier thanks to OPEN WESTBURY, an event held in February to bring residents together that wanted to improve the town.
Westbury Town Council reports, “The OPEN WESTBURY Facebook group has been used by the town council throughout the pandemic to coordinate volunteers, with the number of community minded members growing rapidly.
“These members have helped in all sorts of ways, from poster design, prescription pick-ups and even dog walking.
“The main operation has always been food boxes, more than half of which are free of charge to residents suffering economically because of the pandemic.
“The food included in these boxes comes from locally donated sources, primarily from the local Aldi and Morrisons supermarkets.
“The Lions, Rotary Club and POPCAN all made kind monetary donations to the cause, as did a number of anonymous residents. While the LINK charity assisted the council in setting up the Neighbourhood Line, a service dedicated to offering a friendly voice to those in need. Town councillors, clergy and members of the Westbury Shed all volunteered.
“The town council has also taken over the food bank operation alongside Steve Hubbard, your local area coordinator (Wiltshire Council), who has worked diligently throughout.
“The other boxes were provided to residents that could afford to pay £15 for an essential box of staple groceries but were ‘shielding’ themselves or family members. The town council purchased the items for these boxes at cost price, endeavouring to add as much value to that £15 as they could. This would not have been possible without the help of the staff at Morrisons, led by their tireless community champion, Lisa Litterick.”
“Lisa and the team at Morrisons have been incredible on a daily basis, as have the team at Aldi,” said Ryan Child, Westbury Town Council events manager-cum-Crisis Support.
“The whole town council team has been brilliant, but we couldn’t have done it without this huge community effort. We even had Superheroes delivering Easter eggs at one point! Westbury continues to do itself proud during these times.”
You can read the latest Westbury Town Council newsletter in this edition of the White Horse News.
• We’d love to hear your stories about life during lockdown and how you or your loved ones have been helped. Email news@whitehorsenews.co.uk
