BLOG: NBR Community Fridge continues to provide hundreds of food parcels a week

Volunteers at the ready for our Community Fridge to open

I was touched last week to be asked to take part in the reading of a poem written in tribute to the three men who lost their lives a few weeks ago following the attack in Forbury Gardens. Local poet Sarah Smith wrote a poem to remember those who lost their lives. The poem is voiced by members of Reading’s community, including Reading FC captain Liam Moore and the Bishop of Reading Olivia Graham. You can see 'Reading Weeps' by Sarah Smith here.

We are looking for donations to stock up our very popular Community Fridge and toiletries service. Please get in touch if you are able to help with any of the following items:

Deodorant
Body wipes
Shaving gel
Razors
Pasta sauce
Tinned meat
Tinned food
Sandwich fillers
Fruit squash
Oil
Coffee
UHT milk
Tinned fruit

The cupboard essentials go quickly so we always welcome donations of these particular items. In the first week of July, New Beginning’s Community Fridge provided food parcels for 50 people with an additional 40 dependents. In June over 800 food parcels were given out to those in need, and that is all thanks to you for your ongoing support and donations. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has made, and continues to make, donations.

We're open for donations Monday to Friday from 4:45pm-5:45pm and Sunday from 1:30pm-4:30pm at The Queens Arms.

Trustee Penny collecting the generous grant from Waitrose Reading on Oxford Road.

This week A Bit of Stick has kept our Community Fridge Food Bank well stocked with staples such as juice and crisps. It is highly appreciated.

We were delighted to receive a grant from Waitrose Reading on Oxford Road, which will be spent on supporting our services for those affected by COVID-19. #rdgtogether

A special thank you this week to volunteer Beata who has gone above and beyond in cleaning the Queen’s Arms. Beata regularly helps out at New Beginnings but has gone the extra mile with her friend Agnus in sorting and cleaning the bar area which definitely needed some TLC. She’s done a fantastic job and we’ll try and keep it tidy now in tribute to her hard work! Many thanks Beata.

Beata and Agnus sorting out the bar area.