Covid-19 Cricket Tea a huge success

IL
Ian Lamont 3 May, 2020

Hundreds of items were collected at Merstham Cricket Club by members and the community for two food banks and the Stripey Stork charity on Saturday.

Organiser and club chairman Richard Feist is already planning a second Covid-19 Cricket Tea with a Difference, on May 16, as a result of the success.
His brother Dan Feist, who was separating items in the clubhouse after people had dropped them off, reported that something had been contributed to every section of items that had been asked for, which included tins and dry food as well as nappies and toiletries.
In addition, contributors had online ways to donate via:

https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/12822#!/DonationDetails

Items will be distributed to St Matthew's foodbank, Redhill, and the Merstham Mixed Cafe (Loveworks) as well as Stripey Stork this week.

People were encouraged to drive in via a one-way system, allow their car boots to be opened and their donations to be taken out and then exit, to avoid social contact.

Contributors included the leader of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Mark Brunt and other club helpers included Thomas Kenny, Alex Reeves, Laurie Nicholson, Richard's partner Charley Nolan and Dan's wife Emma.

There were generous donations via a club member with connections at a supermarket in Caterham as well as one man who heard about the event on the day, went shopping and returned with a boot full of items.

Items required for the next planned Covid-19 Cricket Tea with a difference (May 16, 2-5pm) will include:

Tinned spaghetti

Vegetarian tinned meals eg: ratatouille, macaroni and cheese, cheese ravioli. Fray Bentos veg pies

Tea

Coffee

Hot chocolate

Tinned meat, eg corned beef, spam, ham etc

Crackers

Tinned potatoes and tinned carrots

Rice pudding

Custard

Jam and marmalade

Pasta and cooking sauces

Hand wash and soap bars

Nappies

Wipes

Toiletries (unopened)