Banks working together with £28k funding boost

Co-op donates money to vital service for those in need

LEEK and District Foodbank has received a major donation to help with its work.

The Co-operative Bank, which has a main office in Leek has presented the food bank with £28,000 to support its essential services during the coronavirus pandemic.

The bank said it has worked with its trustee partners of historic special purpose entities to make funds of more than £28,000 available to the Trussell Trust supported food bank in Leek.

At this challenging time food banks are providing a vital service to those in the community that need support with food and essential items.

Colleagues regularly collect items for donation to Trussell Trust foodbanks and it is a cause close to the hearts of many people at the bank.

Lynne Ball, trustee at Leek Foodbank said: “We were both surprised and delighted to receive news of the very generous donation from The Cooperative Bank.

“The food bank has been operating since 2013, and covers Leek and a wide surrounding area. We open every Tuesday and Friday for donations of food in the morning, then open for referred clients in the afternoon, and we are totally run by volunteers, from the community, for the community.

“Our food bank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks supported by The Trussell Trust, all with the same aim of providing emergency food and support to people locked in poverty. We provide three nutritionally balanced meals for three days for each person. During the pandemic our aim has not changed, just our operations. We have seen an increase in food distributed and our figures for April were up by 102 per cent on the same time last year.

“The donation from the bank will go towards buying items that we have a shortage of, which is normally the more expensive things such as coffee, tinned meats, nappies, and toiletries.

“Every penny will be used solely for the benefit of our local people who find themselves in need of emergency food in a crisis of any description.

“A simple parcel of food can prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.

“We endeavour to ensure that everyone leaves with not only the food they need, but knowing that there are people who really care.

“A huge thank you to the co-operative bank for your support.”

Andrew Bester, chief executive officer at The Co-operative Bank, said; “We are grateful to have the opportunity to select the Leek Foodbank to receive these funds, and in doing so, we can help to make a difference to those that vitally need it.

“The food bank provides an essential service to the community that one of our main offices is part of and we wanted to support this important cause at an extremely difficult time.”