Markets and meals in Rasen

The final teas ready to go out with some of the volunteer drivers. (photo Rhona Sheppard)

That is the message from Stephen Bunney who heads up the Market Rasen Town Partnership Group, who had a busy Bank Holiday weekend with a market and meals.

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, the group has helped co-ordinate efforts to keep people supplied with food and has also arranged for a number of mass meals to be prepared and delivered to needy homes.

Bank Holiday Monday saw the last of the meals for the time being – an afternoon tea delivered to almost 200 people across the area.

Pop-up market. Photo Frederick D Rowlands

Mr Bunney said: “I would like to thank everyone who has supported the mass meals over the past few months.

“We have decided to stop these for the time being, but the food bank and regular supplies that have already been set up will continue.

“As we enter the autumn and winter, especially with the furlough scheme coming to an end, there will be a lot of pressure on household incomes.”

The town partnership has also been running a uniform bank in one of the town’s Queen Street shops, which has proved very popular.

The shop has offered uniform items for the town’s schools as well as other primary and secondary schools in the area, together with more generic items.

The shop will close at the end of this week, but items will still be available for anyone who needs them.

The Bank Holiday weekend also saw the return of Market Rasen’s pop-up market initiative.

Despite the wet and windy day, residents turned out to support the event.

To comply with Government guidelines, stalls were limited to allow for social distancing and the implementation of a one-way system.

Mr Bunney said: “It was fantastic to see the market up and running –and thanks go to MRAG’s Julie Lambie for organising the stallholders.

“It was really good to see the residents of Market Rasen come out and enjoy the market.

“The next market is planned for October –date to be announced soon.

“Things are beginning to get back to some form of normalcy, but we still have a long way to go.

“The town partnership group will now be looking at the longer-term vision for the town, continuing their support of the town’s businesses as well as residents.”