CROWTHORNE’S Foodbank has been stocking up its shelves after receiving a £1,500 donation from a housebuilder.
David Wilson Homes, which is building Ashridge Grange in Wokingham, said the gift will help the foodbank’s winter initiatives, such as providing blankets, hot water bottles and gloves, as well as food.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the foodbank, which provides emergency three-day food parcels to those in need. Last year, it shared 13,194 of them, and this year demand is expected to be higher.
It is hoping to buy a vehicle to help deliver food parcels.
The donation was made from David Wilson Homes’ Community Fund initiative, funded by the Barratt Foundation.
Kimberley Benson, sales and marketing director at David Wilson Southern Counties, said: “Foodbanks are already seeing unprecedented levels of usage, including in Crowthorne, so this winter we wanted to help those directly affected in the community and spread a little bit of Christmas joy.
“We hope to alleviate some pressure on the foodbank, helping to boost supply levels and prepare for the next few months of demand.”
And Vicky Lawford, spokesperson for Crowthorne Foodbank, said: “We are one of 1,400 Trussell Trust foodbanks in the UK, and expect reliance on our services to only increase throughout the winter.
“This donation will make a genuine difference to many residents in south-east Berkshire, enabling us to fill the gaps in our supply levels and provide extra items such as gloves and hot water bottles to keep people warm this winter.
“We thank David Wilson Southern Counties for its support and encourage anyone who can give any spare food this winter to reach out to us for support.”
To find out more about the Crowthorne Foodbank, visit: https://crowthorne.foodbank.org.uk/
