Heart of England Co-operative Society’s Attleborough shoppers donate a ton of food to Nuneaton food bank

Generous shoppers who have supported a campaign urging people to add one or two extra packets and tins to their baskets to donate to those most in need in Nuneaton have collected more than one ton of food.

The extra items, donated by customers at The Co-operative food store in Attleborough, have been collected for the Nuneaton Foodbank, which distributes food, drinks and toiletries to the most impoverished families and individuals in the town.

The Kem Street store launched its collection point in April 2015. Since then it has taken customers well under two years to reach the mammoth milestone.

Meat, fish and puddings are just some of the items regularly collected on behalf of the charity which relies heavily on donations from businesses and members of the public to help keep the foodbank going.

David Stanier, spokesperson for Nuneaton Foodbank, said: “The team at Attleborough really are very supportive.

“The foodbank collection point itself is in a prime position within the store, and the staff are keen and always go out of their way to help us tremendously – for example regularly promoting the items that we are in need of the most.

“We are very grateful to them for the work they put in on our behalf, also to their customers – without them we would not be able to achieve the things we do.”

Andy Rowton, Store Manager at Attleborough, said: “The Nuneaton Foodbank is an excellent cause which over the years has benefited many thousands of people right here in our area.

“We are delighted to support the Foodbank and thank each and every one of our customers who have helped us achieve everything we have to date.”

David Stanier also praised staff at the Society’s store in School Road, Bulkington, which has supported the Foodbank since the end of 2015.

He said: “Although the store is smaller than Attleborough and it started supporting us later, the staff and customers there are equally supportive.

“Up until last week they had collected 334 kgs of food – the manager Gary and his team are equally keen and we are delighted with the support we receive from the staff and customers.”

Store Manager Gary Hayton added: “There are so many people struggling to make ends meet and they’re here, in Bulkington and Nuneaton, right on our doorsteps.

“The Nuneaton Foodbank plays a vital role in helping those people get the food they need and I’m really proud of my staff and customers here who on a daily basis go out of their way to give so wholeheartedly to this cause.”

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