Digital network lines up a boost for leading foodbank campaign
Date published: 07 July 2021
An Openreach van full of collected food items
Openreach engineers across the North West have joined forces to support anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust, which supports a network of foodbanks across the UK.
During a day of action, North West-based volunteers from the digital network business collected more than 3,000 essential goods for local foodbanks in places like Oldham, Manchester, Lytham St Annes and Atherton.
That included more than 3,000 items including many priority items on the Trussell Trust’s shopping list, like cereal, soup, tinned and dried foods, biscuits, drinks and toiletries.
Matt Hemmings, Openreach’s network delivery director, said: “Openreach has been focusing on wellbeing in our workforce during June.
"We know giving to others is one of the best ways we can do this, and we decided to run a special volunteering day in support of the Trussell Trust.
“There’s been a large increase in demand for food banks during the pandemic, with foodbanks within the Trussell Trust network providing a record 2.5 million emergency food parcels.
"We’ve arranged a drive across the UK to help provide emergency food for the 14 million people living in poverty.
“Our people have really got behind it and we’re very pleased to play a small part in helping the Trussell Trust with the vital work they do to make sure no-one in the North West goes hungry.”
The Trussell Trust supports a network of more than 1,300 foodbanks across the UK, providing emergency food and support to people locked in poverty.
It aims to provide a minimum of three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food to people who have been referred in crisis, as well as support to help people resolve the crises they face.
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