Solicitors spread Christmas cheer to Oldham families

PIC L-R - Emily Gardner (Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers), Dawn Atkinson (Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers) and Father Tom Davis (Chair of Trustees - Oldham Foodbank

Oldham law firm Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers have donated over £600 worth of food to Oldham Foodbank in time for Christmas.

The firm says that learning about the plight of Oldham families and the national food poverty crisis the option of donating food for those in need felt more appropriate than ever this year rather than gifting presents, as is the company's usual practice.

Donating food to the Oldham foodbank has become a regular feature in the firm's charitable giving - particularly at Christmas. The team at Pearson arranged a huge supermarket delivery direct to the Oldham Foodbank whilst staff topped up the trays with their contributions too.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many this year: from shielding, to furlough, to living under restrictions for so long, to mental health problems to redundancy.
 
Bridget Batty, Communications Manager for Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers who organised the project said, “Speaking to the foodbank in advance of the collection we were saddened to hear that one of the priorities at the moment was the need for dried goods such as Pot Noodles and Cuppa Soups.  Due to the living arrangements of some of the recipients who only have access to a kettle and hot water.

Amongst the delivery trays were everyday goods such as sugar, teabags, rice, pasta and tinned goods, Christmas treats such as selection boxes, mince pies and tins of chocolates were included too.”

Grateful for the donation, Father Tom Davis, Chair of Trustees for the Oldham Foodbank said: “Thank you for your generosity.  Without your generosity these people simply wouldn’t get fed.  Asking for food is really hard for people.  I’ve known of cases where mothers go without in order to feed their children.

The Oldham Foodbank is an essential service in our community. The coronavirus pandemic has hit people hard.  In Oldham, since March we have given food to 16 000 people.  This is a 147% increase on what we would give in a normal year,” he added.

As the year has gone on, Father Davis explained that the need for food has changed - people are now accepting food donations due to debt rather than the Covid-19 situation.

This is the sixth year Pearson have helped out the Oldham Foodbank charity at Christmas time.  

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