BIG hearted residents and team members at a Salisbury care home raised more than £800 for the city’s food bank by staging a summer garden party.

Braemar Lodge hosted the family-friendly event after residents chose Salisbury Foodbank as their main charity to support this year.

The food bank currently supports around 700 people a month.

Visitors to the party purchased books, CDs, crafts, jewellery, greeting cards, flowers and plants on sale at a variety of stalls.

The Stratford Road home organised a raffle and laid on a cream tea with glasses of fizz available throughout the afternoon.

As partygoers mingled and shopped, they enjoyed live music courtesy of the Salisbury Pluckers ukelele band and two residents’ groups: the Braemar Singers and the Braemar Handbell Ringers.

The Braemar Handbell Ringers during their performance. From left: residents Margaret Elliott, Brian Mould, Kay Callow, Ula Rigg, Diana Wilson and Douglas Parish Picture: Colten Care

Braemar Lodge resident Catherine Brighty manned her own table, selling books, cards and other gifts she had gathered.

Catherine said: “It was a great experience and all for a good cause.”

Maria Stevenson, Manager of Salisbury Foodbank, was among the visitors and later praised the home for staging the event and raising so much in funds.

Maria said: “It was an amazing day with lots going on and we offer many thanks for such a wonderful contribution.

Residents Joan Hills, left, and Sheila Nell in fine voice as members of the Braemar Singing Group who performed at the garden party Picture: Colten Care

“The support from Braemar Lodge will help to ensure we can continue to do our best for local people in the community who are in need.

“We are delighted the home has reached out to us as their charity for this year.”

As well as providing around 6,000 meals to those in need each month, she and her team increasingly work with community partners such as Citizens’ Advice to help tackle the route causes of food poverty issues so that families have a greater chance to avoid going hungry.

Maria said: “People are often shy to come forward for help so it is great that others in the community, such as Braemar Lodge, support us and keep our profile up.

“Our work is both amazing and sad.”

Braemar Lodge resident Catherine Brighty prepares her own stall in readiness for visitors to the garden party. With her is helper Jamie, son of Companionship Team member Kelly Bartlett Picture: Colten Care

Braemar Lodge Home Manager Jackie Cash said: “It was a pleasure and a privilege to host the garden party, enabling our residents to play an active role in supporting the foodbank and have fun with a lovely event right here in their own garden at the same time.”

Salisbury Foodbank was launched in 2000 as the first Trussell Trust foodbank in the UK.

A national foodbank network was rolled out four years later teaching churches and communities how to start their own foodbanks.

For more information on Salisbury Foodbank, visit www.salisbury.foodbank.org.uk.