Grants awarded by Three Rivers District Council to three local charities are giving vital support to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ascend, Watford Foodbank and One Vision were awarded grants totalling £10,000 by the council from a hardship fund set up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The extra funding is helping the charities support the community with food parcels, support with gas and electric payments and essential supplies including cooking equipment.
Ascend’s “Step in – Take Away” food hub has helped more than 276 people including a young mum who needed a microwave and pots and pans to cook meals. The grant also meant the hub could help a person who had no money to top up their gas meter.
Christine Wyard, CEO of Ascend, said: “We are living in very difficult times, but it is wonderful to see the smiles and sometimes tears of joy from the people this funding is helping. For many it is literally a lifeline.”
Watford-based charity One Vision has been supporting the community from the start of the pandemic.
To date its volunteers have delivered more than 10,000 meals and 20,000 grocery bags to the most vulnerable people in Three Rivers and Watford – equivalent to more than four tonnes of food.
Councillor Sarah Nelmes, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, added: “The pandemic has had a devastating financial impact on many people’s lives, with many losing jobs or seeing their businesses closed. Charities and community groups in Three Rivers are doing amazing work supporting people with basic needs and I can’t thank them enough for all their hard work.”
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