WHEN it comes to supporting a really worthy cause, staff at Liverpool City Council have got a real ‘can do’ spirit.
Over the past two weeks council workers from across the organisation have been rummaging through the cupboards to find tins, cartons and packets to help people in need.
In the two weeks, the collection netted more than 1.5 tons of food, which will keep the foodbanks going for a week. The campaign also collected more than £600 in donations for the cause.
It’s all part of Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson’s support for the Liverpool North and Liverpool South Foodbanks through the Mayoral Hope Fund.
The two foodbanks belong to the Trussell Trust network and are based at St Andrew’s Community Network (North Liverpool) and Bridge Chapel Centre (South Liverpool). They provide emergency parcels, including three days’ worth of food and other basic items, for vulnerable families and people in crisis.
Between them the foodbanks fed more than 11,000 people last year, including more than 3,000 children. Organisers warn that the numbers continue to rise and resources are being spread ever more thinly.
Food parcels are typically made up of long shelf life items such as tinned food, jam and dried rice and pasta. The foodbanks often have an urgent need for long-life juice and UHT milk.
To help, the council’s charity champions set up collection points in offices and other buildings including The Cunard, Central Library and Broadgreen Hospital. And the donations came flooding in.
Simon Huthwaite, who is Operations Manager of St Andrew’s Community Network, said: “Our foodbanks rely on donations from organisations and members of the public. There is a constant demand so this donation will be crucial to help keep children and families fed. It’s great that so many people working for the council have taken the time to support the campaign.”
Simon was on hand at The Cunard Building recently to receive the donations from Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson.
Mayor Anderson said: “Liverpool’s foodbanks do a tremendous job and offer a real lifeline to people and families who are in dire need. Whilst I wish we didn’t need foodbanks we all need to support the great work they do. I am extremely proud of all our staff at the city council who have once again shown a caring attitude and great community spirit.”
- To find out more about Liverpool’s Foodbanks and how you can help, visit: www.southliverpool.foodbank.org.uk or www.northliverpool.foodbank.org.uk
