A Leicestershire Rotary club has come to the rescue of a foodbank which did not have enough storage for frozen food.
Kibworth & Fleckney Rotary, which is based south-east of Leicester, used the club’s charitable funds and a Rotary District 1070 Foundation grant to buy the freezer for The Well.
Rotarian Paul Kirby explained: “The Rotary club heard of the Well’s predicament with the launch of their foodbank during the COVID-19 lockdown, in not having enough storage for frozen foodstuffs donated to the charity.
Kibworth & Fleckney Rotary, which is based south-east of Leicester, used the club’s charitable funds and a Rotary District 1070 Foundation grant to buy the freezer for The Well.
“We were able to purchase a freezer that would reside in the basement of The Well for the foodbank’s use and ongoing needs when that finishes.
“The club was also able to purchase £192 worth of additional food for the foodbank as the cost of the freezer was less than originally predicted.
“Members of the Rotary club also made individual donations to the foodbank at The Well, in the order of £700.”
Emma Dowman, manager of The Well, thanked Rotary for their help. “We have been using The Well to store meals cooked by Sam Shields at The Railway, which are then distributed to those most in need in our community.
“Households represent all walks of life – from young families to those struggling with illness, to the elderly whose families have not been able to visit them whilst they are shielding.
Members of the Rotary club also made individual donations to the foodbank at The Well, in the order of £700.”
“As things change again, we are gradually reducing the number of meals – especially as Sam needs to focus on opening her own business again – but will still be cooking a quantity ‘in-house’ for those most vulnerable members of the community.”
In Northern Ireland, Portadown Rotary has risen to the challenge by becoming involved with two COVID-19 projects.
They wanted to support the work of Women’s Aid and have donated a cheque for £1,350 from the Rotarians’ weekly ‘lunch money’. The cheque presentation coincided with Portadown Rotary’s 84th birthday.
And the club has teamed up with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council to support TADA (The Antrim, Down and Armagh Rural Support Network) to supply much- needed food parcels to the community.
They wanted to support the work of Women’s Aid and have donated a cheque for £1,350 from the Rotarians’ weekly lunch money”
As a result of a successful funding application from the council, Rotarians secured £1,000 to purchase and distribute much needed food items.
They were ably assisted by TADA staff and volunteers, who identified those in need and distributed the food parcels.
