Fruit and Veg Stall Launches in West Thamesmead

Last Thursday, 16 September saw the second Trust Thamesmead/Greenwich Community Food Cooperative fruit and veg stall open in Thamesmead.

Trust Thamesmead's Community Development Officer for West Thamesmead, Romel Holmes-Lewis said: “The stall which is open 11:00am-3:30pm every Thursday outside Discovery Primary School in Battery Road, West Thamesmead, came as a result of a community wide audit which identified a lack of quality, affordable produce available to the immediate community in West Thamesmead.”

The stall proved very popular as children came out of school and were treated to free fruit kebabs. Leanne Simmons whose eldest child attends Discovery said: “This is a fantastic idea; now I don't have to travel to Woolwich to buy my fruit and veg and what is great, is that instead of children asking for sweets when we go into a shop, they will ask for a piece of fruit or veg on their way home from school.”

Both of the stalls; in West Thamesmead and outside Arnott Community Centre in Arnott Close, central Thamesmead, are manned by volunteers. The new volunteers in West Thamesmead are; Trainee Community Health Trainer Elca Fernandes, Rev Simon Boxall, Samantha James and Faye Ryder. “I visited Trust Thamesmead after my daughter started school and I found myself with free time on my hands,” said fruit and veg stall volunteer Faye Ryder, “I like working with people, it gets me out of the house and it gives me a chance to learn new skills including money handling and customer service. It will look great on my CV when I start applying for jobs.”

As well as having a fruit and veg stall, which provides fresh fruit and veg delivered from Spitalfields Market, Discovery school is also promoting its very own Gardening Club. Open which is open to all residents. It encourages families to attend and develop growing projects, 10:30am-12:00pm every Tuesday for six weeks from 28 September. Discovery Children's Centre Teacher Ali McKenzie said: “Helen Carey from Growing Greenwich leads our Growing Club, which promotes respect for the environment and the importance of eating your five a day.

“It also gives children the chance to get involved in a hands-on way so they feel they are achieving something. We held a Gardening Club throughout the school summer holiday and it proved popular with people of all ages.”