This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/17/grenfell-tower-fire-food-donations-kensington-chelsea-relief

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Food donations at Grenfell Tower at risk of going to waste Food donations at Grenfell Tower at risk of going to waste
(35 minutes later)
Relief efforts in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire are having to be undertaken by volunteers amid the risk that some of the masses of donations could go to waste, it has been claimed. Volunteers are having too undertake relief efforts following the Grenfell Tower fire as concerns were raised that some of the masses of donations could go to waste.
Food and other essential items have been brought to centres near the scene in west London, but anger has grown towards the local council, with helpers criticising the apparent lack of coordination of official relief. Food and other essential items have been brought to centres near the scene in west London, but anger has grown toward the local council, with helpers criticising the apparent lack of coordination of official relief.
Dozens of people attended a meeting of the Radical Housing Network, made up of different activist groups, in a community centre not far from the burnt-out tower block on Saturday morning to discuss their next steps in supporting displaced residents. Dozens of people attended a meeting of the Radical Housing Network, made up of a number of activist groups, in a community centre not far from the burnt-out tower block on Saturday morning to discuss their next steps in supporting displaced residents.
Members of the Justice for Grenfell group were too traumatised to be there, the meeting heard.Members of the Justice for Grenfell group were too traumatised to be there, the meeting heard.
A teacher who lives in the area called on Kensington and Chelsea council to take control of the relief efforts. Moyra Samuels told the meeting of about 70 people: “These are very uncoordinated [efforts] and my question is, where is the council? This is something that we cannot do without an enormous level of planning and coordination. A teacher who lives in the area called on Kensington and Chelsea council to take control of the relief efforts. Moyra Samuels told the meeting of about 70 people: “These are very uncoordinated and my question is, where is the council? This is something that we cannot do without an enormous level of planning and coordination.
“Stuff is going to deteriorate at these centres so they won’t even get to people. If the council is going to have to pay people to do that, that is what they are going to have to do. This is not going to go away. Grenfell is going to be with us for weeks and weeks.”“Stuff is going to deteriorate at these centres so they won’t even get to people. If the council is going to have to pay people to do that, that is what they are going to have to do. This is not going to go away. Grenfell is going to be with us for weeks and weeks.”
Posters with the faces of missing people are pinned up on lampposts and walls around the area. A petition calling for the council to resign which had been pinned to an electricity box appears to have been removed.Posters with the faces of missing people are pinned up on lampposts and walls around the area. A petition calling for the council to resign which had been pinned to an electricity box appears to have been removed.
Volunteer Mark Sivarajah, who grew up in the area and returned to help after seeing what happened, said he was shocked not to see any visible council officials. Volunteer Mark Sivarajah, who grew up in the area and returned to help after seeing what had happened, said he was shocked not to see any visible council officials.
Speaking outside a collection point beside Latymer community church, he said: “Nobody [official] is helping. If you look around there’s no one here with a council vest on. Everyone is just coming and pitching in. There’s a lot of perishable goods, like food. People are bringing so much stuff.”Speaking outside a collection point beside Latymer community church, he said: “Nobody [official] is helping. If you look around there’s no one here with a council vest on. Everyone is just coming and pitching in. There’s a lot of perishable goods, like food. People are bringing so much stuff.”
On Friday evening, demonstrators stormed the council offices over its handling of the crisis amid concerns that earlier renovation work was linked to the dramatic spread of the blaze, which killed at least 30 with dozens more deaths feared. Demonstrators stormed the council offices on Friday evening in protest at its handling of the crisis, as concerns grew that earlier renovation work was linked to the rapid spread of the blaze, which killed at least 30. The final death toll is expected to be significantly higher.
Earlier on Friday, prime minister Theresa May was greeted with cries of “coward” and “shame on you” as she returned to the site after being criticised for not meeting victims in the wake of the tragedy. Theresa May was greeted with cries of “coward” and “shame on you” earlier on Friday as she returned to the site after being criticised for not meeting victims in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
Speaking about the growing anger, Sivarajah said: “This is about race, immigration and austerity. People are very angry. It’s a wider political problem.”Speaking about the growing anger, Sivarajah said: “This is about race, immigration and austerity. People are very angry. It’s a wider political problem.”
In a statement following Friday’s protest, the council said: “We are already releasing funds to take care of the immediate needs of those affected as well as other support. We are absolutely committed to supporting anyone affected in the days, weeks and months ahead.In a statement following Friday’s protest, the council said: “We are already releasing funds to take care of the immediate needs of those affected as well as other support. We are absolutely committed to supporting anyone affected in the days, weeks and months ahead.
“But if you know of individuals or families who you feel aren’t getting help, then please let us know so we can get help to them as quickly as possible.”“But if you know of individuals or families who you feel aren’t getting help, then please let us know so we can get help to them as quickly as possible.”