A new foodbank delivery scheme, which will enable over 150,000 items reaching people in need is up and running in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, thanks to the work of Rotary clubs.
Working in conjunction with the international haulage firm Taylors Transport, the plan is to get the goods distributed to foodbanks within the next eight weeks.
The scheme, Rotary4foodbanks, is being led by Rotary clubs in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. The crucial cog in the wheel was delivering much-needed supplies to foodbanks in the region, with the help of Managing Director, Alan Taylor and his team based at Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
Rotary co-ordinator, John Cavey, explained: âWe could see a huge and growing need for foodbank provision in our area.
âAs a leading UK charity organisation, Rotary is committed to helping meet that need.
âFrom our own charity funds we have already allocated ÂŁ35,000 to buy goods wholesale. Our plan is to extend that with another ÂŁ60,000 by the end of July.
âBy then, we hope many more businesses will see the benefit in what we are doing for some of the countryâs most needy, and become supporters of the scheme.â
A new foodbank delivery scheme, which will enable over 150,000 items reaching people in need is up and running in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire
Foodbank use is on the increase as people lose their jobs because of the coronavirus, a situation which is only going to get worse in the coming months.
Year-on-year, foodbanks saw an 81% increase in demand for emergency food at the end of March.
This comes at a time when foodbanks are already stretched to the limit – in 2019 they supplied 1,808,949 emergency food supplies, a 20% increase on the previous year.
John said that without warehousing and an effective distribution network, Rotary4foodbanks would not be able to operate on the scale that is needed to meet that growing demand.
That was where businessman and long-time Rotarian, Alan Taylor, stepped in.
Despite his own business feeling the strain imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic â Taylors has furloughed around 50% of its 200 vehicles and 300 staff â Alan agreed to set aside around 2000 square feet of warehousing space and allocated staff to sort stock for distribution.
âWhy wouldnât you help when you see people in need?â said Alan.
Year-on-year, foodbanks saw an 81% increase in demand for emergency food at the end of March.”
âEven though we work internationally we have always been rooted in the East Midlands and it is only right to give back to the community in which you are based. It is a philosophy which runs right through to the heart of the business.â
Already, Taylors is making deliveries for the NHS and helping with the Daily Mailâs Mail Force PPE scheme.
Now their vehicles are taking Rotary Club food supplies free of charge to foodbanks across the region, as far east as Grantham and as far north as Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.
John Cavey added: âThe team at Taylors typifies all that is good about British business and its willingness to dig in and help the most vulnerable in the community.
âNow we are hoping that other businesses will support our initiative, with cash and goods donations to make sure that no family falls through the net when it comes to having enough food to eat.â
The team at Taylors typifies all that is good about British business and its willingness to dig in and help the most vulnerable in the community.”
While the Rotary4foodbanks scheme is currently operating only in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, John and his team are looking to roll it out more broadly.
âOur members tell us there is a crying need for a similar service to support foodbanks in the North-East especially, where Rotarians are looking to utilise the Rotary4foodbanks scheme to help meet that demand.â
Eventually, they are hoping the Government will give financial backing to grow the scheme nationally.
âUntil then, we are relying on the generosity of the public, and businesses like Alanâs, to see us through.
For more information about Rotary4foodbanks, contact John Cavey at rotaryfoundation1220@gmail.com or call: 07855 299443.
Brigg Rotarians in Lincolnshire have been mobilised delivering, much-needed face masks to the local care homes.
The 20,000 masks were funded by Rotarians from the club, plus and Joe Henderson of Melton Ross.
Brigg Rotarians in Lincolnshire have been mobilised delivering, much-needed face masks to the local care homes.”
Brigg Rotarians then delivered 1,000 Type II face masks to each care home. These masks are used by visitors, but are not suitable as full personal protective equipment, as worn by those treating infected patients.
âThis is another satisfying example of Rotary serving our community,â said Brigg Rotary in a statement.
Also in Lincolnshire, Spilsby Rotary joined forces with Tong Engineering from the town to donate four televisions and three radios to the Eresby Care Home. The club also donated ÂŁ500 to Horncastle and Woodhall Spa Scrubs to make 100 pairs of scrubs.
In Leeds, Calverley Rotary has prepared and donated some pamper boxes as gifts to local care home staff. This was to recognise their dedication and hard work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Calverley Rotary has prepared and donated some pamper boxes as gifts to local care home staff.
This initiative was introduced and organised by Rotarian, Carole Owczarek âThese were modest small gifts but created a tremendous impact highlighting Rotary as âPeople of Actionâ,â said club member, Barrie Rhodes.
