BATCHLEY Support Group can now visit several supermarkets in one trip thanks to its new air-conditioned van.
It means that volunteer drivers no longer have to head back to the charity’s Salters Lane base after each shop to avoid food defrosting.
The specialised vehicle – paid for by Lottery Funding – chills all food, meaning volunteers can now be on the road for much longer.
And not only is it cost effective by saving on petrol, it also frees up valuable time for volunteers to focus on delivering other services.
The charity’s main focus is distributing food to those in need and children at Batchley First School.
But it also offers counselling to those with mental health issues, debt advice and runs a women’s group every Wednesday.
Trustee June Barley said: “We are constantly going to local supermarkets to collect unwanted food before it gets thrown away.
“The new van makes the journey much safer from a hygienic perspective because all of the food is immediately chilled.
“We use it every day and on the weekends too.”
Batchley Support Group is a long-standing charity with simple aims – to achieve a positive result for people in need.
June added: “We have an open-door policy and welcome everyone.
“Time and support is given to every person who comes to us and we make sure that we listen to and understand what our visitors need.”
