AN ASHTON charity says it is emotional about how the public has rallied behind it after its premises were flooded.
Infinity Initiatives has taken the ‘heartbreaking’ decision to cancel a Christmas dinner for 20 of the area’s most vulnerable and isolated people.
Families who were scheduled to come in and choose food parcels and toys have found the drenched after frozen pipes for the flats above burst.
Volunteers were left devastated at the thousands of pounds worth of damage at Infinity’s Wood Street headquarters.
Ceilings collapsed, walls were ruined and furniture destroyed as water cascaded in late on Thursday, December 15 and early on Friday, December 16.
Infinity, which runs a community café as well as offering counselling, support for migrants and support for people however they want it, as well as helping tackle the cost of living crisis, now faces at least a four-figure repair bill.
Gemma Whittaker, chief executive of Infinity Initiatives, said: “We are unsure of the exact amount as we’re still remaining hopeful the carpets, walls and furniture will dry out. Although everything is still drenched.
“We came into it on the Friday morning following a phone call from the landlady and couldn’t believe the extent of which the water had travelled and ruined so much stuff.
“It was owing to a burst pipe in the flats above. This is happening a lot as people can’t afford to have their heating on.
“We had a community Christmas dinner planned for this week for the most vulnerable and isolated in our community. That’s heartbreaking.
“We had lots of families due to come in and choose toys and food parcels for their families.
“We had a volunteer thank you event planned for Thursday which again probably won’t go ahead.
“We can’t take in any donations as the place is still very wet, it has to be as empty as possible so tradespeople can access and repair.”
Centre manager Clare Scoular added: “It was awful to walk into that on the Friday and see so many damaged toys and gifts.”
Infinity will now have to remain closed until the building dries out -m which in cold temperatures takes longer than in summer.
However, volunteers remain adamant they will still offer the same level of support, with the group saying: “What we do know is that no children will go without gifts, no families will go without food. We have plans in place to keep on one way or another and it’s thanks to our wonderful community we have these plans in place.”
Clare continued: “We will have to stay closed till it dries out but we will still support the people who need us by whatever means possible
“We are all devastated, there were definitely some tears cried.
“We are a lifeline and a safe space for many, also a place to come so you aren’t isolated. It’s like one huge extended family.”
Gemma added: “We’ve had offers to work from other offices, which we likely will be doing, and money raised will buy anything we need.
“Our aim was to open in midweek but it’s looking increasingly unlikely. We are heartbroken but positive.”
An online fundraiser to try and help meet the repair costs has seen almost £3,000 pledged in little over 48 hours.
And that reaction has been one thing Clare can hold on to as she told The Correspondent: “I’m so blown away and overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity and support.
“The kindness and community spirit is amazing. We knew we had support but to feel it like this is immense.”
You can donate to help Infinity Initiatives at www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-our-cafe.