A pair of community champions have been praised for their work during lockdown

Sam Pattison and Claire Reynolds have been praised by community groups and charities in the area for their hard work, going above and beyond to help those in need...
Sam Pattison and Claire Reynolds have been praised by community groups and charities in the area for their hard workSam Pattison and Claire Reynolds have been praised by community groups and charities in the area for their hard work
Sam Pattison and Claire Reynolds have been praised by community groups and charities in the area for their hard work

The kind hearted duo are based at Morrisons Pontefract and they support local charities.

Throughout the pandemic, they have been praised for their hard work, which includes donating to a number of food banks and community kitchens, including St Giles foodbank and Pontefract Community Kitchen.

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Sam Pattison said: “Claire has been doing this role for years, she’s incredible.

The kind hearted duo are based at Morrisons Pontefract and they support local charitiesThe kind hearted duo are based at Morrisons Pontefract and they support local charities
The kind hearted duo are based at Morrisons Pontefract and they support local charities

“I joined Claire as a community champion at the start of lockdown, we get along really well and we both love our job, particularly building relationships with the individuals and groups who go above and beyond serving our community.

“The people we’ve helped have been so grateful in these desperate times and the response from the community has been great, so it’s been a rewarding journey for both me and Claire.

“We want to help wherever we can, it’s so important for us to all come together and help each other out, so we will continue to do work like this for foreseeable.”

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As well as their food delivery services, they have been donating weekly care packages to Pontefract Hospital, Pinderfields, Pontefract Fire and Rescue, Local Care Homes, Wakefield and District RSPCA, Pontefract Safer Neighbourhood Team and Normanton Police Station.

Throughout the pandemic, they have been praised for their hard workThroughout the pandemic, they have been praised for their hard work
Throughout the pandemic, they have been praised for their hard work

A large donation of toys was also given to the Prince of Wales Hospice by Claire and Sam.

Their doorstep delivery services have helped many vulnerable and elderly people living in Pontefract with Sam and Claire offering conversation as well as support.

Sam said: “Since lockdown, we’ve been getting to know community members in a whole new way, it’s been so important to build these relationships, especially with the vulnerable people who have been stuck in their homes for weeks.

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“The work’s been non stop daily, but we’re loving every minute of it.

The works been non stop daily, but were loving every minute of it."The works been non stop daily, but were loving every minute of it."
The works been non stop daily, but were loving every minute of it."

“We are based in store, myself and Claire get together on a morning to organise what we are doing for the day, and from there we go out into the community

“When I get home at the end of the day, it’s the most rewarding feeling - you feel so happy and content that you’ve been able to help these people, we both love our job so much, it really means a lot to us.”

To get in touch with the community champions, see their Facebook page