COVID-19 put a stop to local entertainment as well as virtually everything else, but Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society has still been doing its bit for the community during the pandemic. Despite having had to cancel its main Easter musical for two seasons running – along with plays, summer shows, choir concerts and the Ringwood Soiree – the society has still been able to give away £5,000 to a local charity.
With so many people losing livelihoods or with vulnerable people being unable to leave their homes during the COVID-19 crisis, RMDS decided to donate the £5,000 to the Trussell Trust’s hard working Ringwood Foodbank. Ringwood is a prosperous area, but there are still many local people who need support.
In the year from April 2020 to April 2021 the Ringwood Foodbank provided food for 3,238 people, according to its chair of trustees, Chris Lee. He was grateful for the RMDS donation – and the gifts of cash and food from other organisations and individuals – “We’ve been overwhelmed with people’s generosity,” he said. “Our community has been hugely supportive throughout this past year.”
As well as providing food for hungry families, the Foodbank had also recently adopted a fuel vouchers scheme for pre-payment meters to help those struggling to power their homes during the long, cold winter.
RMDS hopes to be able to re-start its calendar of musicals, plays and concerts later this year as the nation follows it road map out of lockdown and social distancing regulations are eased. The hit musical ‘Barnum’, which was cancelled just three weeks before it was due to run at Easter last year, was postponed again this year but the society hopes audiences will be able to return to the Ringwood School Theatre to see the show at Easter 2022.
For more information on Ringwood Foodbank visit ringwood.foodbank.org.uk