A FLINTSHIRE food hub has brought back a ‘spark of community spirit’ since lockdown.

Tammy Adams set up the Bagillt Food Hub in response to those around the village struggling.

Since it formed in February, dozens of local families and pensioners have been saved from going hungry thanks to care parcels.

She told the Leader how the idea is one of many ‘hubs’ branching off from the Deeside Crisis Centre – set up by local independent councillor Bernie Attridge in Connah’s Quay.

Tammy, who owns a café in the village, said: “I was being asked if I could collect care package for people from the Deeside centre who don’t drive or for whatever reason would struggle to get there. That’s where I learnt about the work they’re doing in Deeside.

“I’ve also been making collections from the food club at St Peter’s in Holywell too.

“I wondered why something like things like this hadn’t been set up in the village itself to make life easier for us all. Since it started the crisis centre has branched off into a few of smaller, more local, hubs already. I decided to do something about it and formed the Bagillt branch with Bernie’s help.”

She said that it left her ‘gobsmacked’ that a service like this was not already up and running in the area given that it is home to over 4,000 people – mainly pensioners and families.

Tammy admitted that starting this was “a whole new venture” and didn’t know where to start – but credits Cllr Attridge for his support in setting up what has become “a local lifeline”.

Help has also been offered by local members Cllrs Robert Davies and Kevin Rush.

She added: “I’ve lived in Bagillt for around four years now and one thing I’ve learnt is it’s the kind of place that’s got one heck of a strong community.

“Since we’ve hit the back end of COVID now, hopefully, you can see that spirit has taken a real battering. I think doing this is starting to bring people back together again and that spark of community spirit has come back.

“It’s a real ‘we help each other out’ kind of mentality. The donations people are able to make, the care that’s coming out of people, its all just really lovely to see.”

In just under a month, 27 families and 37 pensioners have been helped locally – but Tammy wants to keep spreading the word that the hub is here to help if people need them.

Initially, the hub was set up in the local library but has now found a new home within St Mary’s Church.

Tammy says that the new venue allows for people not to feel ‘judged’ and offers a more ‘discrete service’ compared to the library.

She adds that, with more lockdown restrictions easing, the group will be looking to offer more of a sociable service alongside the vital care packs at the new venue such as coffee mornings.

Tammy said: “Some of the pensioners here have been isolating for over a year now, they’ll be craving some company and conversation no doubt.

“It’s something we’re looking at the possibility of because it all comes under that umbrella of care – in a physical and mental sense. We want to become more than just a place you’d go to collect a food parcel.”

To make a donation, or enquire about getting help, you can contact the Bagillt Food Hub via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Bagillt-food-hub-103417215143876) or call Tammy on 07930 636070.