A charity providing meals for homeless people was on the brink of closing, but was able to provide food thanks to the quick thinking of Croydon volunteers.

In just a few weeks more than 3,000 people in Croydon have signed up to help their most vulnerable neighbours during the coronavirus crisis through local Covid-19 ‘mutual air groups’.

The volunteers are organised locally into more than 60 Whats App and Facebook groups from Thornton Heath to Waddon and Addiscombe to Purley. 

The groups gained traction through social media as well as with the help of 50,000 flyers donated by creative hub Matthew’s Yard, which were distributed by volunteers.

So far good deeds from neighbours have included collecting shopping for people self-isolating and picking up medical supplies.

The power of the group was shown when a soup kitchen run by Faiths Together in London Road was on the brink of closing due to a lack of food.

But Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid (CCMA) managed to connect the charity with local food producer, Eat with Tom Mathews.

Your Local Guardian:

Map of all the Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid groups currently in operation throughout the borough. Credit: CCMA

On March 20, the soup kitchen was able to serve up beetroot hummus, courgette bread and horseradish cream that was going to be thrown away when the café was suddenly forced to close.

The network has also helped find young, healthy volunteers for charities including Croydon Nightwatch to step in when older volunteers had to self-isolate.

CCMA member Ben Taylor said: “Seeing so many people come together in such a short time has been truly inspiring.”

While Councillor Hamida Ali, Croydon cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities said that the council is working to link up the volunteers with the well-established community organisation, Croydon Voluntary Action.

She added: “Croydon has a burgeoning voluntary and community sector and the development of Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid and its 29 associated mutual aid groups is just one more example and testament to the strength of community spirit here in Croydon.”

MP for Croydon Central, Sarah Jones, said that another 1,500 people have signed up after her plea for volunteers.

She said: “I think people are responding really well to government guidance of not going out which is good.

“The food situation is getting better there’s more food on the shelves than there was a few days ago but the food banks are struggling we need to support them as much as possible.”