Mobile library providing meals on wheels to rough sleepers in Cambridge

Cambridgeshire's mobile library has been repurposed to deliver hot meals and other essentials to rough sleepers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Homeless people are being housed in temporary accommodation during the lockdown, and the vehicle is being used to get food to three hotels where rough sleepers are staying in Cambridge.

In total the staff, who would usually be loaning books to communities across the county, are serving around 55 meals a day, as well as providing toiletries, clothes, books and jigsaws.

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The meals are prepared by the Wintercomfort day centre, Sally Ann's charity and local church groups before being loaded onto the library for delivery.

Councillor Steve Criswell, who is chairman of the communities and partnership committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, praised the library staff for adapting to the new circumstances.

He said: "This is yet another fantastic example of a service working with others to help those in need during these difficult times.

"It’s really heart-warming to see and I would like to thank those involved for their sterling efforts."

Staff on the library are following social distancing guidelines and the County Council said they have been supplied with PPE.

The meals they serve include curry and rice, baked potatoes and chilli, sausage casserole and sausage and mash.

Rough sleepers are also provided with a bag containing sandwiches, fruit and snacks for the rest of the day.

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