Richmond Rugby's community department have been working alongside 400 volunteers from across South West London to supply thousands of vulnerable residents with essential goods and support amid the pandemic.

The club joined forces with The Dons Local Action Group – the charitable arm of AFC Wimbledon – in serving the area.

The fantastic initiative saw the community department operate a drop off point at the Richmond Athletic Ground every Saturday between noon-4pm.

What residents generously donated

Food and second-hand technology, such as laptops and tablets, could be donated, as well as clothing (6-12 months), socks (3-5 years), unopened nappies, changing mats, bed sheets, cots, buggies and bouncy chairs.

Over the last three months Richmond Rugby estimate they have collected nearly 30 pieces of second hand tech, as well as enough essential food for up to 30 families aweek.

Twickenham drop-off point

Richmond Rugby also managed a daily food drop-off point outside Tesco Extra in Twickenham.

Volunteers were at the store between 8am-5pm from Monday-Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sundays.

The food items they were collecting included non-perishables, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, rice, pasta sauces and cereals.

More than 30 people from the club helped out, including Chairman John Heaton, President Chris Mills, Director of Rugby Steve Hill, and Youth Chairman Chris Gomersall.

15 laptops for children's home schooling

Richmond Rugby head of community Dom Palacio said: "We are extremely proud to have been working alongside the Dons Local Action Group, and are blown away by the generosity of our community in recent weeks.

"It has created an awful lot of goodwill.

"One of our community coaches and head coach of the Under 12s - Ollie Cross - has been volunteering in South London and he heard about the work the Dons Local Action Group are doing.

"He linked me up with the co-founder Xavier Wiggins and we very quickly set ourselves up.

"We were doing at least a couple of car loads a week from the club. We have had about 15 laptops donated which then go off to a technology charity who wipe them and install up-to-date software, so they can be redistributed to children who need them for home schooling."

Dom added: "We had a mixture of people at Tesco every day as well.

"The local council put out a volunteer request for various things going on around the borough and we had a wide variety of people contact us saying they would be willing to help out.

"In conjunction with AFC Wimbledon, we approached Tesco at Twickenham and they gave the go ahead.

"The volunteers stood by the entrance/exit and as people were queueing there were signs saying you can donate this and that. AFC Wimbledon then collected everything and distributed to the community."

For more information on the Richmond Rugby community department please email Dom Palacio on: [email protected]

Richmond Rugby membership and season tickets are now on sale at www.richmondfc.co.uk.