Charitable Travellers

[nailit]

The 'Travelling community' often get a bad press but is this the other side of the story?
https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/news/2018/11/gypsies-and-travellers-are-filling-foodbanks-across-uk?fbclid=IwAR1GfxAT6WTBDpCq4zY7D4BIWY7bTgm37AB0KqzIa3Ke-RMqEQHKt9gXd_o
My own local foodbank have received over one and a half ton of food from these people in the last week alone, so far.
(and I'm the one having to crate it, mark it, stack it in the van and unload it at the warehouse...)

A couple of days ago I had to pick up 7 trolleys full of food from one of our local drop off points at Asda. (and several more trips since) While loading it in the van another van drew up and asked if I'd got room for another load, it was the travellers with yet another van full. Spent some time talking to them, they seemed so genuine in their desire to help others.

They (understandably at times) get a bad press but how often do they get credit where its due? Bet their recent generosity in my home town wont make the local press.

[murraymints]

nice to hear nailit ... I did my food bank shop yesterday.... mostly toiletries and christmas goodies.....think they have enough beans etc ! lol...

[Mamyalynne]

It will make the local press if someone tells them - well done to all who donate.

[Tilly2]

Contact The Sentinel yourself, Nails. This generosity deserves to be publicised.

[nailit]

Toiletries always short of minters and xmas goodies always welcome this time of year....but yes, no more beans ;-)

[kvalidir]

Will do a trolley full when I get back to the UK for Christmas, but what you say is true Travellers get an almost universal bad press, but I remember them moving heaven and earth trying to get people to sign up the bone marrow register when one of the locals kids needed a bone marrow transplant. It's frustrating there's an almost media blackout of good deeds done by them because they do, given the chance, have a very generous spirit. x

[nailit]

//Contact The Sentinel yourself, Nails//
Im just a driver Tills, don't know how the higher ups would take it...
I do think that they deserve some recognition though. After talking to them, they came across as really genuine, caring people. So different from what I previously imagined.

[nailit]

Im beginning to agree kval. Was talking to my mate earlier and he was telling me about his father, who was a taxi driver, and how generous they were with tips when he had occasion to transport them.

[nailit]

//It will make the local press if someone tells them - well done to all who donate//
I might sneek a cheeky little anonymous email myself to the local press if nothing is mentioned mamy...

[Mamyalynne]

Why not, sounds a plan.

[Tilly2]

I can't think of a reason why the 'higher-ups' would be alarmed by you contacting the Press. It would be good publicity for both and it might spur on more people to donate.

I suppose you could mention it to your manager and see what they say.

[Buenchico]

In my 'trade plating' days I had many lifts from Irish travellers. I'd typically be holding my plates out when a Ford Transit would pull up, with four men crammed into the three seats up front. After a quick enquiry from the one nearest to me about where I was heading for, I'd be invited to jump in the back. Upon doing so, I'd then meet their wives and loads of children, who were all sitting on the floor. I'd immediately be offered cakes and sandwiches, together with tea from their flasks. (I always declined the offer of "Are you sure you won't take a drop of the hard stuff?" though).

After a really friendly chat, and plenty of food inside me, I'd suddenly find that I was at my exact destination, with the driver having taken a big detour to get me there.

Travellers were great for offering lifts, as were certain other groups of people, such as taxi drivers and doctors. Many hundreds of drivers wearing clerical collars passed me without stopping though. (I often wondered if they were on their way to preach about the good Samaritan or to tell people that they should love their neighbours!)

[nailit]

Actually, kvals post reminded me of occasions some years ago when travellers set up shop locally. People used to be scared of walking a short cut, through them but it never bothered my aged mum and she would cut right through them without a thought. She ended up spending several evenings in their carevans having a cup of tea and a chat with them and was welcomed without question.

[maggiebee]

Story already been in the local press here and attracted some very derogatory remarks about junkies, thieves etc. So sad when folk are helping the less fortunate.

[marval]

It is good to hear a positive stories about travellers.

[nailit]

Tills, because its not my job (im just a volunteer van driver at the moment....) But I DO think that these people deserve to be recognised, the ones I spoke too were just such loving people and were genuinely concerned for others. Far from the typical press that they get.

[nailit]

Chris...great story. Theres always two sides.

[nailit]

Maggie, where is your local press? Would be good to pass it on this end!

Marvel, certainly is.

[ummmm]

We had travellers in our pub. They were in N'pton for some reason and one of the kids were in an accident. The child was in the local hospital which we were close by.

Two weeks they came in and they filled the lounge bar everyday....and not a bad word said the whole time. I was sorry to see them go.