Fantastic to hear of more support for IW Foodbank. Ed
Vital work by the Island’s Foodbank charity has been given a boost by an Island business, which has firmly established community service as part of its business ethos.
Funeral director Geoff Leather, of Geoff Leather Newport, and H.V. Taylor, Ryde, have committed a total of £20,000 over the next four years to help Island organisations and individuals of all ages at a time when the national economic climate has brought a gloomy forecast for the funding of good causes nationwide.
New initiative complements four-year programme
This new initiative is in addition to a four-year programme of £12,000 in donations by the partnership, a project that is now in its fourth year.
The new, even bigger, donation will be disbursed through the Daisie Rich Trust, a charity established half a century ago to make cash grants.
Generous donation
Impressed by the efficient and effective work being done by IW Foodbank to help some 100 families and individuals a week, Geoff Leather has allocated £2,500 through the Daisie Rich Trust, which is adding £3,000 from its own funds for the project this year.
IW Foodbank’s project manager, Hannah King, said:
“We would like to thank Geoff Leather and H. V. Taylor and Son, as well as the Daisie Rich Trust, for this generous donation.
“We help pay our way with our overheads at our warehouse at Somerton Business Park, in Cowes, by sales of clothing and furniture donated to us but we are especially grateful for the vital cash help from organisations, companies and individuals that allows us to continue our essential work to help families hit by the effects of the current recession. We would encourage others to follow the example of Geoff Leather’s businesses if they possibly can”
180 unpaid volunteers
Hannah explained her small management team co-ordinates the efforts of some 180 unpaid volunteers, who see more than three tonnes of food a month pass through the warehouse for distribution to seven outlets Islandwide for people in need, who are issued with vouchers by health and social care professionals.
Food parcels come from a steady stream of individuals as well as the four main supermarkets on the Island to be sorted and stored for distribution at Somerton.
Steve Whitehurst, of H. V. Taylor and Son, said:
“Our family firms are deeply rooted in the Isle of Wight, going back more than a century and our business is dedicated to serving the community we have been part of for so long, so we are delighted to be able to help an organisation like IW Foodbank, which has established a record in just two years for giving effective help where it’s needed most throughout the Island.”
Geoff Leather added:
“Times are hard at the moment for many families on the Isle of Wight that deserve a helping hand. It is a great pleasure for us to be able to give practical assistance to the IW Foodbank and other local initiatives. We are proud that this is entirely in keeping with our ethos of service to Island people.”
Support for other Island projects
Geoff Leather and H. V. Taylor and Son already supports the successful Challenge and Adventure project for young people, based at Parkhurst Forest, as well as Shanklin Youth and Community Centre, a Women’s Institute “Let’s Cook” project and the IW Scout Council.
In keeping with the ecological ethos of its Fernhill Park woodland burial ground at Wootton, the firm plans to help finance a proposed dormouse survey.
The chairman of the Daisie Rich Trust, Adrian Medley, said:
“The continued generosity of Geoff Leather is a very welcome boost to individuals and organisations the trust helps with grant aid. We are most grateful to Geoff and thank him on behalf of all those who will benefit from the £20,000 aid over the next four years.”
The IW Foodbank is one of 275 nationwide, founded originally by the Trussell Trust, in Salisbury.
Find out more about IW Foodbank by visiting their Website.
Image: © Isle of Wight Council
