DASH Delivering Aid to Stroud Homeless It is now several years since we started collecting food for the homeless and disadvantaged in Stroud and it has been very moving to see how generously people have responded. With the deterioration of the economic situation, the need has steadily increased and last year the Stroud Food Bank handed out packs of emergency food to last 3 days to more than 4,000 people or families. In order to help ensure a steady supply of items, most major supermarkets now have a box for donations to the Food Bank near their checkouts - in Stroud, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Tesco's all do – and for many people that is an easier way than bringing the food home and then remembering to take it to the collecting boxes at the back of Painswick and Cranham churches or to Murrays Estate Agency. Unsurprisingly we have noticed a marked drop in the amount given in this way. We shall leave the boxes in situ for those who find this easiest – and may from time to time (e.g. at Christmas) make an appeal for specific items but otherwise suggest that you take advantage of the supermarket boxes when doing your weekly shop. As a guideline for what is most needed, the Food Bank is currently asking for donations of tinned fruit, 1 litre cartons of UHT milk, sugar, jam and small jars of instant coffee. The small change collection will continue – it is a much appreciated source of cash for Marah, the charity in Stroud that we work through (and which is itself affiliated to the Food Bank). Alison Robinson (812 286) and Frances Watson (812 071) are always delighted to receive any contributions, small or large. Alison Robinson

COMMUNITY CONNEXIONS Offer Dial a Ride & Voluntary Car services for the South Cotswolds & Stroud areas from Monday 18th April. You can contact them by phone on 0845 680 5029.

Community Lunches Welcome to this session's lunches every Monday from October 3rd for 10 weeks before Christmas (& 10 weeks in the new year). For £3.00 you get home-made soup, fresh bread, butter& cheese – and good company! – at Ashwell Centre, off Hyett Close, off Churchill Way. We do hope people of ALL AGES will come to support the lunches, as each week's different hosts (all local groups/ societies) work so hard to provide them. Note especially on October 17th when Year 6 at Croft School will be the hosts! Rita Bishop (Coordinator) & David Linsell (Treasurer

Cupcakes for Carers Cupcakes will be taking a break until next Spring. If you have any ideas about how to make us more useful to the community please let us know. Perhaps a different time or place or format or perhaps we should focus on more specific groups, instead of all carers. If you would like to join the team we would welcome you. Phone Pat 813326 with your input. Pat Burrows

Library News Author Event – Andrew Taylor Thursday 6th October We are lucky to have Andrew Taylor visiting us. He is known both for crime and historical fiction, and two of his latest – The Ashes of London and The Silent Boy combine the two, the first a murder mystery set in the smouldering ruins after the Great Fire, the second is shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger award. Tickets £3 from the Library, to include a drink, and books will be on sale. New Books for October include: Adult Fiction Latest offerings from Jilly Cooper (Mount),Ian McEwan (Nutshell), Andrew Taylor (see above - The Silent Boy), Peter Robinson (DCI Banks – When the Music's Over) and Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge; Dawn French Oh Dear Sylvia (Spoken Word CD) Adult Non-Fiction Chris Packham, Fingers in the Sparkle Jar; Paul Kalanithi When Breath Becomes Air Junior Fiction Enid Blyton, Island of Adventure; Daisy Meadows Olivia Nibblesqueak's Messy Mischief We have done a swap of various spoken word CD's with Minchinhampton Community Library, so please check out those shelves for those car journeys

Knit and Natter We meet on the first Monday of the month in the Library between 10 am and 12 noon. We knitted Knitivity last year and had it on view in the Library. It has now been sent to South Africa to Pat Chase's Vine Charity. This year we are knitting The Twelve Days of Christmas. As you can imagine there are quite a lot of characters to knit,so if you would like to come and join us and knit a French Hen or a Lord a Leaping we would be happy to see you. Just turn up or contact me on 01452 812344 Ann Williams