Estuary League of Friends launches urgent appeal for donations
A charity at the heart of a Devon community’s response to the Coronavirus crisis has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to help it continue its vital services.
The Estuary League of Friends - based in Topsham and a lifeline for many in the town and surrounding areas - needs £60,000 to continue its essential work.
In recent weeks Estuary’s staff and volunteers have been delivering groceries, medicines and essential supplies, cooking and delivering hot meals, taking people to urgent medical appointments and making telephone calls to vulnerable people who are self-isolating. This is in addition to home help services which the charity continues to provide daily because, without them, their most vulnerable clients could no longer live safely in their own homes.
Over 600 of the most vulnerable in the community - mostly the elderly and the disabled - have benefitted so far.
But this has come at a financial and social cost to the charity and its clients.
The usual income which Estuary League of Friends enjoys has been lost because its community hub in Topsham has had to close - therefore income from a Post Office, library and meeting rooms at the hub has disappeared. The charity’s two shops in Topsham have also been shut for several weeks because of the lockdown.
Likewise the scores of services, clubs and trips organised by the charity before the pandemic have had to be stopped temporarily - a huge social cost to the community as well as a loss of money to the charity.
“Estuary League of Friends usually receives no regular government or council funding and has always relied on the generosity of donors and being able to provide services at reasonable costs to those in need” explains the charity’s chief executive, Rachel Gilpin.
“So many people are seriously worried for themselves and their families and need the support that we can offer. It’s likely that the virus crisis will continue for some months to come, especially impacting the most vulnerable that we are here to help. That’s why we’re launching this appeal” Rachel continues.
A video is being posted on social media to explain what Estuary does and why it deserves support. You can see it here along with details of how to donate.
A donation of £12 could provide a hot, nutritious lunch for an elderly couple self-isolating at home; giving £25 could keep the Estuary minibus on the road for a day to transport local people with chronic health conditions to and from urgent medical appointments; while £100 could feed a family of four for a week.
Rachel adds: “Please give whatever you can, either as a donation or doing some safe fund-raising while staying at home during the lockdown. We need your help, and we need it urgently. Thank you.”
