Client demand has been busy and Friday 16th August was a record – maybe demand is growing, as it did for three months in the spring. We now have an extra room in the Salvation Army hall which gives much more space for sorting donations – especially with the Harvest Festival surge which we hope for in the next month. For Harvest Festival gifts, we already have lots of soup, beans and tuna, but are always running short of jam, pasta sauces, basic tinned vegetables (peas, carrots and sweetcorn) and of rice pudding, custard and tinned fruit. However, those of you who donate cash enable us to fill those gaps with economic purchasing.

The Community continues to support us amazingly. The cast of “Broadway Babes 2” at the Blackmore Theatre are giving their time, energy and creativity totally free, together with their staff and the theatre itself – with all proceeds coming to the Larder; SpecSavers had a donation point during July and early August; the Farm Shop continues to give us a fresh fruit and produce every Friday. The main donors continue to be the very many people donating through churches throughout the area from Lympstone, Woodbury, both Budleighs and out to Otterton as well as collection points in Tesco, the Magnolia Co-op and elsewhere. With your continued help and support, The Larder is well placed to face a turbulent autumn and winter – and happy to continue as calmly as we can!!

Faye Brophy, our new Salvation Army leader, is starting a “back to school” supplies drive. Contact Faye by email to “faye.brophy@salvationarmy.org.uk” or call 01395 273152. More information is on the Community Larder website www.exmouthlarder.co.uk/backtoschooltxt.htm . As at the start of The Larder, progress will depend on the ideas and energy of people – the problems of needy families do go beyond the food which The Community Larder is set up to provide.