HELP - Here to Ease Lockdown Pain

How we can turn tears of despair into tears of happiness - like we did for one woman...

People are struggling, in all sorts of ways and to varying degrees. So we here at the Bishop's Stortford Independent want to help. But we need YOU to help US to help THEM.

On January 6 we asked on our Facebook page if individuals, households, businesses etc would be prepared to help by donating money, goods, services to someone in need - of anything. We've had a few offers, for which we are extremely grateful.

One of them was from a reader in Bishop's Stortford who said: "I would be prepared to buy a laptop up to £200 for a child that needs it. My son had his A levels last year and I can’t imagine how much extra stress it would have caused if he didn’t have a laptop on top of everything else."

Serendipitously, the same day, we were made aware of a woman in desperate need. A single mum made redundant in lockdown last year, she broke down in tears on the phone as one of her children's teachers told her that her child's device was incompatible. All she could think about was how they needed a laptop and she couldn't afford one.

Tomorrow, that woman will take delivery of a brand new laptop - thanks to her anonymous guardian angel.

It's a tale to lift the heart and bring hope in these tough times - and it's a story we want to make happen for many more people.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The easiest way is to donate to our HELP campaign here. Or you can donate something else. It doesn't have to be a £200 laptop. It can be a cupcake, a bunch of flowers, a bottle of gin, a pizza delivery... anything that makes the recipient feel that someone has their back... anything that gives them the strength to get through today and do it all again tomorrow.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

Email us at photos@stortfordindie.co.uk - mark the subject line 'HELP' - if you have something to offer or donate and we'll find a home for it.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN NEED?

Perhaps you know someone who could do with a helping hand right now but you're not in a position to help them? Again, email us at photos@stortfordindie.co.uk with their details, tell us what they'd like and we'll do our best to lift their spirits... somehow

We look forward to you helping us to help those in need at this time :-)

#community #strongertogether