A new Rural Coffee Caravan will soon be back out on the road supporting communities following the success of a £25,000 fundraising campaign.
The caravan, a service to fight loneliness and isolation among older people by delivering coffee and company all over Suffolk, was stolen from its base near Bury St Edmunds on July 9/10.
In just three weeks, a campaign to achieve £25,000 to replace it has reached its goal, and the Rural Coffee Caravan charity will pick up their new vehicle next week from Farnham Leisure in Saxmundham.
The High Sheriff, Geoffrey Probert, and his wife Nella will be there to cut the ribbon.
The charity’s director Ann Osborn said: “We’ve been astonished and moved by the generosity of so many people, and how the story of our small charity’s work has made such a huge impact around the UK.
“Thank you very much to everyone who has donated. Ironically, even before our caravan was stolen, the trustees were working hard on fundraising to continue our work, given that we are currently facing a shortfall of core funding.
“So we’d appeal to anyone who hasn’t yet donated, to please do so, even though this particular JustGiving campaign has now ended. To donate directly to the charity, visit our website and click the ‘Help us’ button. Four different means of donation are listed there.”
Funds to replace the stolen caravan came through the JustGiving crowdfunding page - including a £10,000 anonymous donation - and additional offline donations.
The “generosity” of Paul Curtis, of Farnham Leisure, means the charity have been able to secure a brand new caravan for a very good price, including vital equipment like awnings and chairs.
They will take possession of it on Wednesday, August 16, at 4pm and it will be on the road visiting rural communities next week.
The caravan and its contents were stolen from where it had been stored securely some time between July 15 and 16.
The theft came as a great shock to the charity, which has worked across rural Suffolk for 15 years
It was set up in 2002 by Sally Fogden and provides mobile support and information services to some of Suffolk’s most isolated communities.
To donate see here.
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