Greater Anglia foodbank donations [credit: Greater Anglia]
Greater Anglia customers and staff teamed up to donate more than 300kg of food for families in food crisis in the Colchester area this winter.
Donation points were open for five weeks until December 13 at Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester Town, Frinton-on-Sea, Manningtree, Thorpe-le-Soken, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Wivenhoe stations.
All donations, which totalled 312kg in food alone, included everything from tinned food, pasta, chocolate sauce and long-life milk to household items such as Vaseline, deodorants and washing up liquid, were given to the Colchester foodbank, based at Tollgate Retail Park.
The foodbank, which gave 24,514 people three-day emergency food supplies in 2023, is Essex’s busiest.
Colchester foodbank donations 4 (credit Greater Anglia)
Greater Anglia foodbank donations [credit: Greater Anglia]
Steve Watts, Assistant Area Customer Service Manager for the Colchester area, said:
“We would like to give a huge thank you to all our customers and colleagues who donated such a huge amount of much-needed food and household items to families in need in the communities we serve around Colchester.
“I couldn’t believe how much was donated when we went round to pick it up from all the stations. I’m very proud that our customers and colleagues alike dug deep to support such a worthy cause.
“I hope the donations will go a long way in making sure people in food crisis have as comfortable a festive period as possible.”
Nikki Ranson and Armin Lange, Co-Directors of Colchester Foodbank, said:
“Thank you so much to the staff and customers of Greater Anglia for their incredible generosity.
“Donating 312kg of food along with household items is truly inspiring and will make a huge difference to families in need across our community.
“This kindness and support reminds us of the power of coming together to help others, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
