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A WOODLEY community stalwart has set a new goal of a million donations after hitting a 200,000 milestone.
Ronnie Goodberry, who helps lead Woodley Volunteer for Covid-19, celebrated donors and donations at a special ceremony held at the Oakwood Centre last Friday.
The scheme was set up during the early stages of the pandemic to ensure that no Woodley resident would be left without essential food or medicine.
It has since become the Woodley Food Drive, with an aim of helping vulnerable families and households across the town.
Mr Goodberry presented certificates, flowers and bottles of sparkling wine to staff and customers of Iceland, deliverer Jim Calnan, Noreen Calman and residents of Dunbar Drive for donating 2,204 items of food and toiletries; a similar award went to Tina Bennett, while Sue Bennett was thanked for giving 2,383 items.
In all, 201,319 items have been given so far… but Mr Goodberry is now aiming for more.
“Today, to be honest, isn’t about our group, this is about the people of Woodley,” he said. “They have donated week in, week out and they’ve gone above and beyond any expectation I ever thought to be fair.
“I’m overwhelmed with the total. I mean, 201,000 items – it’s massive, it’s fantastic. People just give and give and give.
“Obviously with greater fuel poverty and everything else, we’re going to see a massive increase (in need) so we need to keep going.
“We’re not stopping. Let’s go for a million.”
Among the gathering were Woodley town council leader and borough council mayor Cllr Keith Baker, Woodley town mayor Cllr Janet Sartorel and her deputy Cllr Kay Gilder.
“Woodley has the most fantastic voluntary organisations that help people, we’re a wonderful community,” Cllr Gilder said. “Ron has done a fantastic job because of the pandemic.
“I really enjoy presentations like this because it does show appreciation of the good works that people do.”
