Recognition of the community achievements Maya’s Community Support Centre has been award over the years are listed below :
Food Bank of the Year 2024 Pride of Britain 2023 Herne Bay Carnival 2023 Coronation Garden Party
Food Bank of the Year 2024
On Tuesday 27th February of 2024 Maya’s Community Support Centre was invited to the Kent and Medway Food and Drink Awards at the Canterbury Cricket Ground. The first award of the night was Food Bank of the year with three Food Banks from Kent shortlisted ; Maya’s Community Support Centre, Gillingham Street Angels and Tonbridge Baptist Church. Nominations were received from Kent Messenger readers. We were thrilled that judge Jamie Weir (Chief Communications Officer) from East Kent Colleges Group chose our Food Bank for the Award referencing the Free Shop.
Click here to read the article from Kent Online
We run two food bank , firstly one for dry / tinned food items , this might also include washing tablets, cooking oil and pet food and is funded entirely by donations from local businesses and individuals who visit our community cafe or free shop. If you would like to donate towards this please click here (any donation is gratefully received and helps directly to feed those in need in our community).
Our second food bank is a fresh (supermarket surplus food bank). We are registered with three national schemes (Caboodle, Neighbourly and Fareshare) and collect over 100 slots from local supermarkets per week. Our army of volunteers give up not only their own time but fuel to bring food to our food bank every day of the year to ensure that there is enough food to feed the families that are waiting every night at the Community cafe at 9pm. We are always looking for volunteers to help (either collect food or to help in the food bank to arrange the food when it arrives and hep with the distribution). It is hard work but very rewarding click here if you would like to know more about joining our volunteering team
Pride of Britain Regional Fundraiser of the Year 2023
On the 8th October 2023 Maya Amangeldiyeva was awarded Regional Fundraiser of the year 2023 at the Glitzy star studded awards ceremony at Grovesnor House in London. Maya and Andrew attended the awards night without any shoes or socks to highlight poverty. ITV produced a video for all of the finalists to showcase the community achievements click here to view the video .
Herne Bay Carnival Best Float
On Saturday the 12th August 2023 Maya’s Community Support Centre entered a float in the Herne Bay Carnival. The theme was the Coronation. The local community donated bunting and flags, several kind well wishers made an outfit for Maya which was fit for a Queen. On the float were volunteers and their families who were distributing sweets and chocolates kindly donated to the food bank. Also Soft toys (which had been donated to the free shop) were distributed from the Float. Maya and her team were thrilled to be awarded the Best Float by Tom Mellish (Sherif).
Royal Coronation Garden Party May 2023
In recognition of the community work Maya’s Community Support Centre has achieved since formally being setup in December 2022, Maya was nominated to attend one of the Coronation Garden Parties. Maya and Andrew (Director at Maya’s) visited Buckingham palace and were presented to Sophie Duchess of Wessex before meeting King Charles.
