Central England Co-op Christmas Foodbank Appeal ends with 60,000 items donated thanks to people in Cambridgeshire

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 20/12/2017


Central England Co-operative has said ‘thank you’ to customers and members in Cambridgeshire after they helped donate over 60,000 items in support of the Christmas Foodbank Appeal.

The Society launched its five-week campaign in an effort to bring a little festive cheer to those in need and provide emergency food and support to individuals and families in crisis.

Colleagues at over 180 food stores across 16 counties used already strong connections with local foodbank providers to encourage people to drop off one or more items – resulting in an incredible response.

Over 11,000 items a week were donated and, in total, over 60,000 were collected in just a matter of weeks.

This incredible example of co-operation and community means that over 5,500 food parcels – made up of around 11 items – can now be handed out, providing over 16,000 meals to people in need.

An amazing 10 % of the final total was collected in Cambridgeshire.

Martyn Cheatle, Central England Co-operative Chief Executive, said: “Everyone involved with the Society has been delighted with the amazing response by customers and members to our Christmas Foodbank Appeal.

“As a co-operative, we are proud to be able to be able to support the great work of local foodbanks across our trading area during the festive season and throughout the year.

“In just five weeks, we helped collect over 60,000 items, provide 16,000 meals to those in crisis and make a real difference in our communities.

“Following the success of the Christmas Foodbank Appeal, we want to appeal to our customers and members to continue to support our foodbanks throughout 2018 to help provide meals for people in need across the area all year round.

“Everyone at Central England Co-op would like to thank our members and customers for their generosity and supporting us in this project.”

An average of six items were donated per bag left in one of the Society foodbanks and this included items such as tea, sugar and cereals to other essentials such as toiletries and hygiene products to ensure people can maintain their dignity during times of crisis.

The Christmas Foodbank Appeal was launched on the back of year round relationships currently in place with local foodbank providers and hundreds of Central England Co-op stores.

During Christmas 2013, Central England Co-operative Society trialled an in-store food bank collection and such was its success that the Society now has permanent food bank collection points in hundreds of its stores.

The store foodbanks have resulted in thousands of people every month from Birmingham to Norfolk being given enough food to cook meals.

Paul Brookhouse, from the Hope Centre, in Derby, operates a weekly foodbank for people in need in the city.

He spoke about the impact that the Christmas Foodbank Appeal had had on the organisation and the people in need across the area.

He said: “Although it saddens me that there are so many local people in need of food, the wonderful kindness of the Central England Co-Operative customers is truly uplifting. 

“On behalf of all the people they have helped I would like to say a big thank you."

More details about the Society’s work with foodbanks and the community in general can be found by visiting https://www.centralengland.coop/

Notes to editors

Picture caption: Central England Co-operative colleague Liisa Hollis was all smiles after customers and members in Cambridgeshire collected over 60,000 items as part of the Christmas Foodbank Appeal.

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with gross sales of £927 million in 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property investment. Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2017.

 

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

 

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

 

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

 

Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

 

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop