Member Article

Collection will feed 70 Sunderland families in need this Christmas

Caring workers from one of Sunderland’s biggest employers came together to collect enough to feed over 70 local families in need this Christmas.

Staff from EDF Energy, Doxford International Business Park, organised a food drive to collect donations for the Sunderland Elim Food Bank, which is based at Elim Pentecostal Church, South Hill Crescent, New Durham Road, while also raising almost £500 for the charity.

Allison Chisnall, customer service advisor from EDF Energy, said: “This is a project that is very close to my heart. After hearing so much about poverty in the North East through being a union representative, I wanted to do something which wasn’t going to cost people a lot of money.

“We recognised that the need for food banks in the Sunderland area has heightened this year, and many families in the area need some extra help this Christmas. The festive period is an expensive time for everyone, especially those with young children.

“As one of Sunderland’s largest employers, we knew we could pool our efforts to collect a lot of food and donations to help local families. We exceeded our targets thanks to our generous colleagues and we received thanks from the food bank for donating so much.”

The collection gathered 64 Advent Calendars, 124 Selection Boxes, 105 Tins of soup, 126 Tins of Beans and many other items of food for Sunderland families in need over the festive season.

The charity offers food year round supplies to people who have been identified by care professionals. Those who are given vouchers visit the foodbank where they collect three days of emergency food.

Volunteers meet clients over a cup of tea or coffee and have time to listen and, where possible, signpost to other professional organisations who can help solve the longer-term problems, including debt advice agencies and counsellors.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by EDF Energy .