An appeal from a Norwood lunch club to replace stolen food and equipment has hit its target in less than 24 hours – thanks in part to a donation from one local businessman who read about the charity’s plight on Inside Croydon.
Charity manager Karen Jewitt out campaigning recently with Sadiq Khan
Yesterday, we reported that the South Norwood and Woodside Community Association, off the High Street, had been victim of a break-in which had emptied its freezers and fridges of more than £500-worth of food intended for the elderly and adults with learning difficulties who use the venue for meetings and meals through the week.
By this morning, the online appeal had exceeded its £750 target by £100.
“I am truly overwhelmed by the kindness of friends and strangers towards our lunch club,” Karen Jewitt, the Labour councillor who manages the charity’s lunch club, told Inside Croydon.
“I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. We have reached our target and a bit more but I have been asked by donors to keep it up a bit longer so we can take the learning disability group to Brighton for fish and chips.”
The list of donors so far are listed on the appeal site here.
One donation, of £250, came from Pure Foods Ltd, a Purley Way-based business run by Nick Mattey.
“I read about the robbery of the charity’s kitchens on Inside Croydon,” Mattey said today.
“It’s really saddening that anyone can steal from a charity run by hard-working volunteers, but it’s gratifying to see how the community has rallied round – from picking up the news from an independent community website, the dozens of donations from individuals and groups, to our business having a whip-round towards some of the lost food.
“We hope that Karen’s group have a great day out, and turn this into a real triumph out of adversity.”
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