A PUB landlady honoured for going the extra mile to support her community during the first lockdown is preparing to support villagers during the latest restrictions.
Caz Halfhide, of The Bell Inn, Ash, was awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to the community in Martock during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Caz and her partner, Kerry Taylor, launched the Store Cupboard Basics shop in the parish in March on a delivery or collection basis, stocking bread, milk, eggs, cheese and bacon.
Kerry then took to the kitchen to cook hot meals for takeaway or deliveries carried out by Caz.
The Co-op and Morrisons allowed Caz to buy unlimited restricted items to meet the local need, while Caz and Kerry were registered as a community group so they could received donations of life-limited products to distribute.
The pub paid for the items with financial support from Full Scale Ltd, and there was further help from Gillard’s Worldwide Warehousing and Distribution, who collected items from wholesalers and delivered them free of charge.
The Bell housed more than 70 products ranging from bin bags to fresh veg to keep people supplied with basics at low prices with the aim of keeping people safe.
Ash Parish Council printed order forms for every household in the area and three parish councillors volunteered to help Caz with the deliveries.
She said: "While feeling totally humbled by the award, I am so proud that it was for doing my utmost to look after a community that I care about deeply and am so chuffed to be a part of.
"Many others within the hospitality industry helped out. Rather than dwelling on the fact that their businesses had been forced to close, they rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in helping everyone they could within their local communities."
At Easter, Caz and three councillors delivered hot cross buns to every home in the parish and Easter eggs to every child under 16, all donated by Bakery Rpy-Al in Martock and Morrisons in Yeovil.
Caz added: "As we enter another national lockdown, it seems incredible that it was almost 12 months ago that this nightmare of Covid-19 began. A nightmare that has affected every single person in the world.
"I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported me and my team. My involvement in the community is very important to me. Continuing to help where I can, and if required, I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”
During the current national lockdown, Caz and Kerry are running their Pop To The Shop initiative. For details e-mail thebellinnash@aol.co.uk
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