As lockdown looms, groups in Sudbury rally round to help those in need during Covid-19 pandemic
With major events being cancelled and shops and offices closed due to coronavirus, villages, communities, organisations and businesses are rallying around to provide help and support to those in need.
Sudbury Town Council says a number of big events have already been cancelled, or are at risk of being cancelled in the coming weeks.
Those already pulled include the Sudbury Fun Run, Crucial Crew, Long Melford’s annual Scouts parade and the council’s annual meeting on March 25.
In doubt are the town’s VE Day celebrations on May 8, Party in the Park in July and the annual mayor making ceremony in May.
Teresa Elford, Sudbury Town Council events co-ordinator and mayor’s secretary, said: “Sadly, more will be cancelled – it’s awful. If we do cancel Party in the Park, I’d like to assure people that they will receive full refunds for their pitch fees.”
Sudbury mayor Robert Spivey said: “The council has been following what the Government is saying and we are currently working out what services we can continue to provide. For example, if we have to close our office at the advice centre, how we can continue to communicate and help people.
“We are currently updating the website with details of what the local businesses are offering, and we’d advise people to use our website for information.”
Town centre charity The Bridge Project says it is increasing its capacity to provide hot meals to the elderly and vulnerable.
Chief executive Jo Searle said: “Our priority is to provide more meals, especially for people who are having to stay indoors and cannot get out. We will never close our meal delivery service.”
Currently, the charity, which specialises in helping disadvantaged adults and runs a dementia cafe, delivers around 60 hot meals a day to residents living in Great Cornard and Sudbury, Acton, Long Melford and Great Waldingfield.
However, it has closed its Bazaar shop in Gainsborough Street and its Brundon Cafe on the Stour Valley Business Centre in Sudbury this week to focus on meal deliveries.
Jo (pictured) added: “Deliveries will continue whatever happens with the cafes and we will also be introducing additional services for people having meals delivered, such as delivery of essential groceries.”
“We always need volunteer drivers and assistants, but especially now. If anyone can spare time to help us, please call 01787 313691.”
In Sudbury this week, queues have been reported outside many shops and supermarket. Supplies of hand sanitiser delivered to Boots each day are sold out immediately when the shop opens at 8.30am.
At Waitrose, the store cafe has been closed since Monday, with a notice advising customers that it is due to staff being needed elsewhere in the store.
In common with other supermarkets and shops, shelves have been stripped of products such as toilet rolls, pasta, bread, cleaning products, soap, soups and frozen goods.
Sudbury’s community Facebook page gave details of Iceland in North Street and Farmfoods in Northern Road opening early at the beginning of the week to allow elderly customers to shop before their usual opening hours.
