Sharing is on menu at canteen
CANTEEN food from furloughed J and J Ormerod in Bacup is helping to feed those in need in Rossendale.
The kitchen, bedroom and bathroom manufacturer, with bases across the borough, took the decision to furlough all 350 staff after the government announced the lockdown last month.
Production director Bob Myers said: “That meant the staff canteen was going to be closed, and it could be that when we reopen many of the items will no longer be in date and would have to be skipped.
“We have seen the national coverage of the difficult situations food banks and food groups have been in, and when discussing this with my wife who has worked with volunteers for a food group in Bury called Porch Boxes, it made sense that we should donate the food.
“I ran the idea past joint managing director Stephen Greenhalgh and he agreed to give the food to a local cause.”
Jo Shakeel, a volunteer with Positive Start’s Food Group in Rawtenstall, called in to collect the boxes of crisps, tins of soup, mushy peas, cans and bottles of soft drinks, jars of piccalilli, pasta sauce and packets of rice.
The lockdown has meant the usual weekly
Food Group at Positive Start in Bury Road has had to be suspended.
She said: “The donations will be packed up and distributed around the local community where there is a need.
“Positive Start is distributing food through different organisations and we also get referrals from groups including Shelter and the Children and Adult Services.
“We have a network of people who regularly use the Food Group and we are keeping in touch with them to see if there is anything they need.
“All donations are gratefully received; especially now.”
For more information visit www.facebook.com/ positivestart.org.uk/