This in from Sarah at IW Foodbank. In her own words, Ed.
Special trolley events drew the attention of many intrigued passers-by and helped raise awareness of the growing problem of UK food poverty as well as generating funds for foodbanks.
As growing numbers of people turn to foodbanks for emergency food, towns across the UK have been taking part in The Trussell Trust’s nationwide Foodbank Trolley Push during April and May to help stop people going hungry in Britain. IW Foodbank’s event is looking likely to reach their target of £5,000 They also collected food for fellow islanders in need.
170 per cent increase in need
Nationally, Trussell Trust foodbanks have seen a 170 per cent increase in numbers of people given three days emergency food in the last 12 months – the biggest increase since the charity began in 2000. Foodbanks in the Isle of Wight have also seen growth in numbers of people helped in recent months as incomes have been stretched to breaking point and more foodbanks have opened to meet the growing demand.
Flew off from the hover terminal
Hovertravel MD Neil Chapman headed up a Hover team who gave the Trolley Push a fantastic send off from Ryde Terminal with a fantastic performance by girl group Capo 4 entertaining the team and commuters alike before setting off up through Ryde with Peter Mulhern – Senior Pilot at the helm of the trolley!
Tesco Extra, Waitrose, Spar & Sainsbury Supermarkets decided to help by having charity collections to raise funds and food. In addition support was given by Ranpanui, Barclays Bank (Newport), Church On The Roundabout (Newport) with the backing of many other churches and the fantastic independent businesses along the routes. They all wanted to work together to combat hunger in the local community by joining a nationwide trolley relay by The Trussell Trust charity.
300 foodbanks in the UK
The Trussell Trust has launched over 300 Foodbanks in the UK, including Isle of Wight Foodbank. The foodbank provides three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food to people in crisis. Many foodbank clients are working families who are struggling to make ends meet in the current economic climate. All food given out is donated by local people and last year IoW Foodbank gave emergency food to thousands of Islanders.
This national Foodbank Trolley Push event aims to raise funds and awareness for local foodbanks, as well as helping The Trussell Trust to launch more foodbanks nationwide to meet the growing need. Check out this video for more.
Foodbank trolley pusher Hannah King from IWFoodbank says:
“We had so much fun and enormous encouragement from many volunteers and local businesses, which we valued greatly. We are all making a difference to people who find themselves needing help and support during their periods of crisis within our community.”
Event sponsor Tesco’s Community Director Michael Kissman says:
“We’re delighted the Trolley Push was such a success. Our colleagues and customers really enjoyed taking part in our national food collection in December, so it’s been great to have had the opportunity to help raise important funds for food banks around the country once again.”
