A Street that Keeps on Giving

When the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the country, it brought with it many challenges and hardships. Yet amid the uncertainty, something remarkable emerged in communities across Britain: a renewed sense of neighbourliness.

At Southampton City Mission, as we worked to coordinate emergency food deliveries during those difficult months, we witnessed countless acts of kindness. Neighbours checked in on elderly residents they had never met before, collected prescriptions, delivered shopping, and set up local support groups to ensure no one was left behind. Communities rallied together, and many people discovered the power of looking out for one another.

While life has largely returned to normal, one Southampton community has continued to embody that same spirit of generosity.

During lockdown, residents of Hazeleigh Avenue in Woolston created a neighbourhood group to support those in need. What began as a response to a national crisis has become a lasting commitment to helping others, with residents continuing to collect food donations for Southampton City Mission to this day.

At the heart of this effort is Luciana Lattanzi, who keeps a donation box on her doorstep and regularly encourages friends and neighbours to contribute whatever they can. Before each collection, Luciana checks Southampton City Mission’s “traffic light” food lists to identify the items most urgently needed and shares this information with residents. The result is a steady stream of much-needed food and household essentials making their way from Hazeleigh Avenue to our warehouse in Millbrook.

Time and again, Luciana arrives with a car boot full of donations, generously provided by her neighbours. Each delivery helps us support individuals and families across Southampton who are facing financial hardship or crisis. Of course, we are incredibly grateful for the food itself. Every tin, packet and toiletry item makes a tangible difference to someone in need. But what makes these donations especially encouraging is what they represent: a community that has chosen to continue caring for others long after the headlines faded.

Many of the people benefiting from these donations will never meet those who contributed them, yet they are experiencing the kindness, compassion and generosity of strangers. We are hugely thankful to Luciana and all the residents of Hazeleigh Avenue for their faithful support over the years.