Bernie the Bus continues to support Bucks residents
Those in need have been supported through food collections for local charities.
Buckinghamshire residents have been supported through the Covid crisis by the scheme.
Bernie the Bus, run by Buckinghamshire Councillors Ashley Waite and Paul Irwin, has been helping to support this in need following the coronavirus outbreak.
Before March Bernie was used to bring elderly locals to day centres and trips out, as well as transporting local sports clubs to fixtures and group events.
When this became impossible the decision was made to for a team of volunteers and drive around local villages dressed up and having a dance. All while collecting food for local charities.
Councillor Paul Irwin, Chairman of communities and Localities at Bucks Council
"We decided that we wanted to get involved and help. So we decided to start collecting for food banks and dressed as Batman and Robin, with a team of volunteers went around collecting for foodbanks.
"It has just gone from strength to strength. We have now collected well over 1,000 green crates of food, including animal food. "
The Vineyard Food Bank, Winslow Food bank, Buckingham Food bank, Berryfields and Water Mead support groups are some of the groups being supported through Bernies collections.
But animal welfare groups like the RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre, Animal Antiks and the Green Dragon Eco Centre have been supported.
Cllr Paul says one great outcome is raising awareness for those in need:
"The great thing that Bernie has done is bring the attention of foodbanks to local villages, where villages in our areas don't tend to need foodbanks as much as towns. And they have really loved helping.
"We've donated £800 to the Vineyard Food Bank in Aylesbury and brought new batteries for a medically retired soldier who was stuck in his home. We raised this money through a JustGiving page. We've also delivered over 120 potted plants to the over 70s in three villages to mark VE Day with a grant from Buckinghamshire Council."
"I am so proud of the villages that are taking part and making this possible.
"There are supporters in the 20 villages who have now taken over running that village and running that basket for us.
"It has just been huge and I am extremely proud of what Bernie has done."Bernie
Bernie is still going around collecting and the next step is to look towards Christmas.
Cllr Paul is planning on bringing Bernie around to villages but with some Christmas spirit and hopefully some visitors will be joining them.
The goal is to bring in donations and raise funds to provide one hundred families of four with a Christmas dinner.