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Clothes, shoes and new furniture are being donated to victims of this week's flash flooding at Grands Vaux thanks to a support group set up by an islander who grew up next to the worst-hit estates.
Susan Clark said she was determined to do something to help when she heard the news of islanders' houses being destroyed.
“I just felt awful for everyone affected,” she explained. “Your home is your home, so it must be horrific to lose it.”
Mrs Clark is part of a group chat of residents of the former Nicholson Park estate who were saddened to see the area they grew up in being damaged.
After gaining support for her idea of setting up a centralised place for people to donate unused items to those impacted, Mrs Clark created a Facebook group and shared it amongst her friends.
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” she admitted. “I’m currently stuck in bed after an operation, so it’s really the only way I can help!”
The ‘Grand Vaux Flooding - Items to Donate or Needed’ group has gained more than 550 members since it was set up on Tuesday.
Mrs Clark said: “So far, most people have been needing clothes and shoes as they left their homes in a rush with basically nothing.
“Some items of furniture have also been popping up on the group too, which will hopefully be useful in the future when residents need to furnish their homes again.”
She added: “Loads of people have stuff sitting in their houses that they don’t need anymore, so I hope residents will be able to use the group to get new furniture, fridges, or whatever else they need.”
Although clothes, shoes and furniture have been the main offerings on the group so far, one member has offered the use of their car to someone who lost their vehicle in the flood.
Pictured: Some of the items that have already been offered to residents.
Mrs Clark said that she was “not surprised” by the kindness of islanders, saying that “Jersey is very generous”.
She was also approached online by a stranger named Sarah Pope, who has now taken over the “leg work” for the group.
Mrs Clark explained: “Sarah has been down at Grands Vaux spreading the word and liaising with residents to find out exactly what donations they need.
“The kindness of everyone has just been amazing.”
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