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A cleaning company based in Newbury has donated 50 USB memory sticks to the town’s talking newspaper.
Kennet Cassette is a free voluntary service which has provided blind and visually impaired people with audio recordings of extracts from the Newbury Weekly News for nearly 50 years.
When the charity went digital in 2017, it bought 400 USB sticks. But after of many becoming damaged or going missing, supplies are running low.
Joint founder Peter Dann, from Cold Ash, told newburytoday: “This was more than enough to supply our listeners, bearing in mind that for each listener we have three address labels and postal wallets to cover delays with Royal Mail.
“However, earlier this year I became aware our stock had diminished noticeably.
“Some had become damaged, others had been sent to other audio service providers and not returned and, as ever, some of our postal wallets just disappeared.”
But just as Mr Dann was prepared to order 50 new USBs, he received a call from ServiceMaster Clean by Deeland, which donated them to the charity instead.
The company’s managing director Andre Gottemaker and business services director Jane Paisley presented Mr Dann with the USBs last week.
Mr Dann added: “I received a call from ServiceMaster, saying they would like to give us some USBs.
“I quickly said ‘yes’ and put them in touch with the supplier we used seven years ago, and their new ones are identical to our existing stock.
“It was very generous of them and an example of a local commercial enterprise helping a local philanthropic enterprise.”
A company spokesperson said: “We were very pleased to meet Peter Dann of Kennet Cassettes.
“ServiceMaster by Deeland were happy to donate to Mr Dann and chat to him about the charity, which helps around 70 listeners a week in and around Newbury.”
The company has previously donated to Newbury Soup Kitchen and assisted Berkshire Vision with providing guided walks for visually impaired people around Thatcham Lakes.
Kennet Cassette recently celebrated recording its 2,500th edition on Thursday, October 24.
A team of around 30 readers and editors rotate each week to produce up to two hours of audio material, as well as a monthly roundup of the key news for the district.
They record out of a small office in Gilbert Court, Thatcham.
Contact Kennet Cassette at https://shorturl.at/6GeUj to volunteer or suggest someone who would benefit from its service.
The talking newspaper service started in 1960s. There are around 300 services across the UK today.
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