Sandy All In Together make sure you’re ALL all looked after!

Members of SAIT – Sandy All In Together - have been working their socks off for the past few weeks to look after vulnerable and isolating residents to make sure no-one slips through the net during the coronavirus crisis.

The team now has around 70 members and has received a £1,200 donation from Sandy Town Mayor Michael Scott’s Charity Fund, as well as over £3,000 on its GoFundMe page.

One SAIT leader sent a heartfelt message to the group on April 3. It read: “We have answered nearly 70 calls in this first week from residents asking for prescription drop offs/pick-ups, and essential shopping and errands.

“Our fantastic volunteers, who are working tirelessly to do everything they can for every call that comes in, have been incredible. They now have the SAIT T-shirt or stickers and carry volunteer ID so residents can feel safe.”

The donations were initially needed to help set up SAIT - providing mobile phones, printing and basic food supplies - and the team now needs funds to purchase everyday items from suppliers.

It is also running its own food bank (the team is not asking for food from the public to minimise the risk of infection). Leftover funds will go to Need Project Food Banks.

Resident and volunteer Samantha Pugh, who works as a dentist in London, said: “I wanted to give something back to my own community. With some people you can see that they are a bit lonely, so after delivering their shopping I’ve sat three metres away in my camping chair and had a chat with them.”

The group was founded recently by resident and NHS worker, Mark Richardson, and is working closely with Sandy Town Council, Bedfordshire Police, Sandy Baptist Church, St Swithuns Church, Sandy Good Neighbours, The Need Project, Central Bedfordshire Council, supermarkets, doctors, pharmacies and BRCC.

> If you need help, contact [email protected] or call 07523 339193.