Poverty charity urges business to back its work
A CHARITY is calling on local businesses to support its work in keeping families fed during the cost of living crisis.
Feeding Families, based in Blaydon, Gateshead, works alongside agencies such as social services, family support workers, schools and GPS to support those who experiencing food poverty.
A massive 44,000 people were helped by the charity last year, including 15,800 emergency boxes for families in crisis, 13,700 boxes supplied to people leaving hospital and more than 9,000 Christmas hampers.
Now Feeding Families is hoping more businesses will be able to support its work by becoming involved in its first charity gala dinner this autumn.
CEO Juliet Sanders said: “The economic squeeze continues to bite.
“Already this year we have seen hikes in food prices, utility bills, National Insurance, interest rates, fuel – with the promise of more to come.
“This perfect storm is sending many more families into financial difficulties and Feeding Families is seeing more families looking for support.
“Helping those who cannot access foodbanks, 2022 has seen demand rise and donations fall but we are determined to help as many families as possible.
“This is our first event of its kind and we are sure it will be a huge success.
“We are seeing strong ticket sales and are delighted to have secured sponsorship from SIG, Cello and Karbon homes.”
Consett-born
comedian and Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley, better known as Lost Voice Guy, is the special guest at the event at The Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park on October 1.
Businesses such as Nexus, Sage, Dame Allan’s Schools and Tesco are already supporters of the charity, which distributed more than £500,000 worth of food to needy families last year – and organisers are hoping more will give their support at the dinner.
They are asking businesses or individuals to support the event by buying a ticket or a table of 10, by taking advantage of one of the corporate sponsorship packages, by donating an item for the raffle or tombola or by sharing details with friends and colleagues. Feeding Families’ work started in 2016 as a small project providing Christmas hampers to a small number of families in desperate need over the festive period.
The following year, a request on social media to find people interested in participating in the Christmas hamper scheme led to an overwhelming response and the concept evolved and grew year-on-year.
In 2020, Feeding Families rose to the challenge of the pandemic and, in partnership with other regional charities and organisation, began to supply weekly food packages to the most vulnerable. Emergency Food Boxes provide food which will support two people for three days. Today, Feeding Families operates 365 days of the year with two packaging centres in Byers Green, Spennymoor and Blaydon and is supported by an army of 3,000 volunteers to help to provide emergency food boxes to 1,000 people each month.