Mark Davies, Deputy Manager of The Co-operative at Norman Place Road in Coventry, with Pamela Sharman, Store Manager.
Monday, December 21, 2020
Charities working with some of society’s most vulnerable residents this Christmas have been given a helping hand by the Heart of England Co-operative Society.
The retailer has shared out £25,000 among local causes working with people affected by financial hardship or isolation from family and friends as a result of the events of 2020.
The money has been distributed among 23 different causes in the Society’s trading area which spans Coventry, Warwickshire, south Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
The foodbanks in Coventry, Nuneaton, Warwick District, Rugby and Hinckley each received £2,000.
Andy Bower is Operations Manager at Warwick District Foodbank, which helps people in Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth.
He said: “We would like to thank the Heart of England Co-operative Society for its very generous donation and its support at Christmas. The donation came as a wonderful surprise, especially as we look to purchase additional food stocks to support the increasing number of families and individuals in our local community struggling with hunger and financial hardship or poverty as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Other groups in society to benefit from the donations include teenagers leaving care, elderly people in isolation, disadvantaged families, the homeless, people with mental health issues and women setting up home after leaving a refuge.
Jo Dyke, Community and Membership Adviser at the Heart of England Co-operative Society, praised the work of the charities throughout the year.
She added: “There are so many fantastic causes in this area working round the clock to combat hunger and poverty and to help struggling families to feed their children, especially at Christmas.
“These are issues which we know are close to the hearts of our members and customers. No-one should go without food and a few festive treats over Christmas, so we are delighted to support these fantastic causes whose staff and volunteers work so hard all year round to make life a little easier for people less fortunate than themselves.”
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