THE Haslemere Penny Ha’Penny Trust and Haslemere Community Rugby Club have each presented cheques for £1,000 to Haslewey, to continue its vital support for vulnerable residents.

Centre manager Kerry Morren-Jeffs said: “Before Covid-19, the team here were providing about 40 hot, community meals – Meals on Wheels – three times a week to local residents.

“With more vulnerable people rightly staying at home, that number has gone up to nearly 70 meals per day.

“The problem is, the income from the other things Haslewey normally does has dried up with the lockdown, and that money subsidises the cost of the meals, so money is tight.”

That’s when the rugby club and the Penny Ha’Penny Trust got involved.

Rugby club president Ged said: “There’s been a feeling among club members that they wanted to get involved and help in the community, but didn’t know how to.

“Some have volunteered with community organisations but this was a way the whole rugby family could contribute to the really great stuff Kerry and the Haslewey centre are doing for people in our town.”

Haslemere Penny Ha’Penny Trust trustee, and town and borough councillor Simon Dear, added: “Kerry applied to us and it didn’t take long to decide we wanted to help out.

“What’s going on here is brilliant, in very difficult circumstances.”

It is far from the only charitable endeavour the Haslemere Penny Ha’Penny Trust has been involved with in recent weeks, with volunteers also busying themselves providing treats for local care-home workers.

The trust has given baskets, mainly fresh fruit and hand cream, to Chestnut View near Tesco, Moorhouse Nursing Home in Hindhead and Shottermill House Care Home.

Cllr Dear added: “These folks are on the front line working under very difficult conditions and deserve a ‘thank you’ from us all while they’re in the thick of the problems we’re facing.

“It’s been lovely sharing the generosity of our donors with them.”

Trust chairman Malcolm Carter added: “The Penny Ha’Penny Trust was set up three years ago to raise and distribute grants locally and we’ve given money to more than 30 good causes in Haslemere, Hindhead and Beacon Hill areas – clubs, schools, Scouts, Guides, musicians, all sorts.”

Visit thehpht.org.uk to donate.