A NEW community group that has amassed more than 300 members in its first week will help to deliver essential food boxes to residents in the borough’s second lockdown.
Community Angels, headed by Joanne Birch, her daughter Ashley Jay Laughton, and helped by ten-year-old granddaughter Frankie Jai, is a Facebook group set up last week following the news that the country would be thrown into lockdown.
Determined to help others, the mother and daughter duo set out to collect donations that they could deliver across the borough to families who may need a boost.
Joanne, 54, from Dodworth, wanted to start the group to offer an anonymous way of supporting families in need - without any fuss.
“Everything is done through private messaging on social media,” Joanne told the Chronicle.
“People just let us know their situation and where they live and we deliver them a box full of essentials to their door.
“They don’t even have to speak to us if they’re more comfortable. Our main aim is to be discrete but be there for those who may need it.
“Both myself and Ashley have always been involved with fundraising and volunteering. We love people and would do anything for our community.
“We have been supported by community group ‘Gift of the People’ who helped us find our feet and we’re thrilled to team up with them now.”
Joanne and Ashley, who started the group initially to help their neighbours, were amazed to find the group had grown to more than 300 members in less than a week.
“We’ve been overwhelmed and humbled with the response so far. We’ve only been up and running for a week and have already delivered loads of parcels.
“My phone has constantly been busy and we’ve been packing these boxes non-stop.
“Even though we’re based in Dodworth, we’ve been making deliveries across the borough.
“It’s worth it to help those who may be afraid to approach somebody for help.
“We reply as quickly as possible and get people sorted on the same day if we can.
“We can’t thank everyone enough for their support and we hope this can help make a small difference to somebody going through a tough time.”
To get in touch with the group, inbox the ‘Community Angels’ Facebook page.
