Pictures of helpers sorting out food donations for sharing at Christmas

Businesses have been supporting Coventry Food Network by providing food donations.

Coventry City Council’s Community Resilience Team has been working with businesses, and other organisations to help provide food support to the city food network as part of a recent Christmas campaign. Council employees have also been supporting the project, making lots of team donations over recent weeks.

McLaren Construction, Capita, Severn Trent, Deeley Construction and Council employees have all provided much needed donations:

  • McLaren Construction have been supporting Canley Food Hub with food and essentials;
  • Capita collected food for Feeding Coventry at Foleshill Community Centre;
  • Severn Trent has supported Henley Green Grub Hub;
  • Deeley provided food donations to Stoke Heath Community Centre;
  • Council Staff food donations went to The Hope Centre in Hillfields.

The network of 15 Food Hubs (also called social supermarkets) offer discounted food parcels which typically equate to £25 worth of food for a cost of a £5 membership per week.

Charlotte Green from McLaren Construction, said: "It has been an absolute pleasure to get involved in supporting Canley Food Hub. McLaren would like to also thank DP Interiors Ltd, Hartle Ltd & Midland Decorators Ltd in joining in with providing food donations for Canley Food Hub.”

Julie Hughes, Canley Community Centre manager, said: "On behalf of Canley Food Hub, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to McClaren Construction for their incredibly generous donation. Your kindness and support are making a meaningful difference, and we are truly grateful for your partnership in helping us make Christmas a little brighter for many of the families in Canley.”

She added: “Thank you also for the surprise Hamper. We added it as an extra prize to our Christmas Raffle and its winner was thrilled!”

A spokesperson for Capita said: "We are proud to support the Coventry Food Network Christmas Campaign and contribute to such a meaningful cause. We believe in giving back to the community and are committed to supporting charitable initiatives that make a real difference.”

Kim Clark and colleagues at Severn Trent gave their donations to Henley Green Grub Hub. Dianne Williams from the Grub Hub, and trustee of the Coventry Food Network, said: “Severn Trent staff have always been generous, and we really do appreciate their support, particularly this time of year when families need us most.”

Sharon Thomas, Community Resilience Team at the Council, said: “We ran a Christmas campaign to support the Coventry Food Network and have been absolutely delighted by the support shown by so many groups in Coventry along with local businesses. There are lots of opportunities for groups to donate, and details can be found on our website.”

Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Coventry Food Network makes a massive difference across many neighbourhoods in the city, and it is great to see local businesses showing their support too. Both businesses and other organisations provide much needed help to the network and we see this throughout the year.

“Most of the food hubs are run with the support of volunteers and their work is always valued.”

If you are a local business and would like to arrange a company food collection or monetary donation, please get in touch with the Coventry City Council’s Community Resilience Team at communityresilience@coventry.gov.uk or visit coventry.gov.uk/community-resilience.

Published: Thursday, 19th December 2024