Features

Delivering for the community

Together Our Community Survives (TOCS)
Together Our Community Survives (TOCS) volunteers have been helping deliver food to the African-Caribbean community (credit Enfield Council)

Dionne John helped set up a food delivery service aimed at Enfield’s African-Caribbean residents

The aptly named Together Our Community Survives (TOCS) is an amazing project delivering authentic African-Caribbean food to support local people who are shielded and self-isolating during the pandemic, as well those who are experiencing financial hardship.

The TOCS project is led jointly by Enfield Caribbean Association and Street Watch Edmonton. The project started at the height of the pandemic with donations from Paradise Patties and contributions from other local small grocery stores. We had just two volunteers delivering food to only a handful of people. Now our volunteers support up to 180 elderly and vulnerable with a weekly basket of groceries.

The support from the community, Enfield Council, and local businesses in Edmonton Green Shopping Centre – such as Rebecca’s Shop and Letherbarrow – has been exceptional. With the assistance of Jamaicans Inspired UK, brand names such as Grace Foods UK, Waitrose, Port Royal Patties and Windrush Bay have been mobilised and stepped up to the mark.

We also received a statement of support from renowned actor Rudolph Walker (known for his role as Patrick Trueman in BBC soap EastEnders). He said: “It’s only by working together that we could support our community during Covid-19.”

Omar from Brother Fruits and Veg, a market stall holder at Edmonton Green, has also helped us. He added: “It’s a pleasure to support the community.”

Before Covid-19, Street Watch Edmonton supported the community with regular after-school patrols. Today, we are still supporting the community, but this time in partnership with Enfield Caribbean Association to deliver food. The solidarity and generosity of the African-Caribbean businesses and others has been unprecedented.

Oveta Mcinnis, chair of Enfield Caribbean Association, said: “This is a time when we have come together in collaboration to support our African-Caribbean elders and most vulnerable. Our volunteers are giving their time freely to ensure that the needs of the community are met.”

There’s still more to be done and we are relying on volunteers and donations to keep the project going to support our elderly and vulnerable in Enfield. If you can help distribute food parcels, please contact the TOCS team using the details below. We are also appealing for donations via Just Giving – we have raised more than £2,500 so far.

Find out more about Together Our Community Survives (TOCS) and pledge your support:
Call 07915 919 524
Email [email protected]
Facebook /TOCSenfield
Twitter @TOCSenfield
Visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tocsenfield


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