Trolley donation will help vital South Derbyshire good cause support those in need
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 23/07/2019
A Central England Co-op store in South Derbyshire has donated one of its shopping trolleys to help a local food bank ensure vital support packages get to those who need them.
Petra Parker, from South Derbyshire CVS, picked up the trolley from the Overseal Food Store, in Burton Road, as part of a long-running link-up between the good cause and the major retailer.
Customers and members regularly make donations to South Derbyshire CVS, based in Grove Street, via a permanent food bank collection point in the store.
So when Petra and her team appealed for help in transporting donations and food parcels across the area, the store stepped in to donate a trolley that will help ensure that nobody in need misses out.
Kim Grice, Overseal Food Store Manager, said: “We take being a retailer who is part of our local community very seriously and one of the ways that we do this is by supporting great causes such as South Derbyshire CVS.
“Customers and members are always donating items via the collection point in our store and we regular see Petra or one of the other volunteers picking up the items to turn them into food parcels for people in need.
“When we heard that they needed a trolley we did not hesitate and are delighted to be able to donate one to support South Derbyshire CVS in all of its great work.”
The donation will help support a good cause that continues to see a rise in demand for its services.
In the past three months, it has handed out over 300 food parcels to everyone from families to the homeless.
Service Co-ordinator Petra said: “This donation is a blessing and people do not know how much of an impact it will make to all of us and the people we help on a daily basis.
“It will make it easier to pick up donations and then also to distribute food parcels to those in need.
“We have a great and long-standing relationship with Central England Co-op in Overseal and we cannot thank them enough for their generosity.”
South Derbyshire CVS is one of over 50 food bank partners that the retailer is supporting as part of its Summer Food Bank Appeal to tackle holiday hunger, which is when families see the safety net of free school meals removed during the summer holidays.
All stores across Burton and South Derbyshire are hosting a special food bank collection until 15 September and are encouraging customers and members to donate items including shopping basket staples from tea, sugar and cereals to other essentials such as toiletries and hygiene products.
The food will then be used to create either bigger food parcels for families with children or to provide special packed lunches for projects that tackle holiday hunger during the summertime.
The campaign was launched after data collated by the End Child Poverty coalition and researchers from Loughborough University in May 2019 revealed that in Burton and South Derbyshire a total of 15,238 children were currently living in child poverty. This can be broken down to 9,330 in East Staffordshire and 5,908 in South Derbyshire.
Notes to editors
Picture caption: Petra Parker, from South Derbyshire CVS, was all smiles after Central England Co-op staff in Overseal donated a trolley to help deliver food parcels to people in need.
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 the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, travel shops, 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 2019.
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 member 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 and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 421390
Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop