Thank you! And you! And you!

We may still be some way from the end of the COVID-19 crisis, but ADCA would like to say a very big "thank you" to everyone who has helped us to support local people whose lives have been badly affected during the lockdown.

The volunteers who have offered their services to collect and deliver shopping and prescriptions have done an excellent job, ably assisted by the village retailers, in keeping those obliged to stay at home well supplied.

More volunteers have been involved fielding calls on the ADCA helpline, while others have made it possible for local people without access to transport to attend medical appointments, now that the hospitals, clinics and GPs are making appointments again. We are very grateful to them all – and also to those who kindly offered to help, but whom we have not yet been able to involve in the Community Support Group.

Hidden Helpers

There are some people whose help to ADCA at this difficult time has been less publicly visible, but just as valuable, and we wish to thank them too.These "hidden helpers" have:

• kept in touch by telephone with isolated people in our community
• assisted with the technology and information systems we needed to operate in a new and unfamiliar way
• collected payments for shopping by telephone to make it easier and safer for residents and for ADCA
• helped with "one-off" tasks, such as helping to deliver well over 100 picnics to local carers and their families as part of Carers' Week last week, or
• sent in donations to help us to keep our services going.

They know who they are and we want them to know how much their help is appreciated.

Adversity can sometimes bring out the best in people and that has certainly been evident in the past 12 weeks. The situation appears to be improving, but the ADCA helpline will remain in place for as long as it is needed, thanks in large measure to the wonderful community spirit that exists in Audlem and district.