National community award for Dream Doors owners
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“People of all ages got involved,” said Mrs Wallace. “Most were on furlough. We’ve had some parents get involved in engaging their young children in volunteering – and others to support their teenagers getting involved as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award.
“One of our volunteers is retired and monitors the emails to manage collection requests as they come in – coordinating who collects which donations from which street at which time is a logistical feat, and she’s been amazing.”
Mrs Wallace continued: “The foodbank allowed us to use their logo and branding when posting social media articles to drum up community support.
“They helped us print leaflets with foodbank and Dream Doors logos on to post through letterboxes about the scheme to raise awareness.
“They also created an official foodbank email address and integrated us.”
After receiving the Community Champion of the Year award, Mrs Wallace said: “I want to express a huge thank you to everyone involved for every leaflet printed and posted, every mile walked and driven, every tin, packet, bag
and box collected, every supportive message, every social media reply and every smile and wave at doorsteps and the warehouse.
“The contributions from March 2020 until March 2021 equated to 12 per cent of all donations to the West Berks Foodbank. By September 2021, we have collected nearly
25 tonnes in donations from doorsteps around West Berkshire.”
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions continuing to ease across the UK, Mr and Mrs Wallace still accept donations at the showroom. And they have donated the £1,000 charity donation which came with the award to the foodbank.