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Generous people of the city continue to support Cardiff Foodbank during Pandemic

8th March 2021


Generous people of the city continue to support Cardiff Foodbank during Pandemic

Cardiff Foodbank has continued to deliver food to people in need during this difficult time.

Cardiff Foodbank vans can drive up to 400 miles per week with a rota of 8 volunteer drivers who make sure food gets from the drop off points in Supermarkets and communities to the people in need.

The vans are crucial for delivering food across the city.  In 2020 between September and December the volunteer drivers delivered food to supply 3411 food parcels, providing for 2062 adults and 1349 children. Their previous van was having mechanical difficulties and there was real concern that without sourcing new transport the Foodbank would no longer be able to keep up with demand. They decided to launch a Harvest and Christmas appeal with a difference, asking for financial support instead of the traditional food requests.

Some of the amazing ways that the communities of Cardiff stepped up included:

  • Schools doing coin collections for their Harvest festivals and for Christmas concerts
  • Churches organising online harvest and advent appeals
  • Companies donating the cost of cancelled Christmas celebrations
  • Community groups fundraising and appealing for donations among members and local residents 
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University donating money for every staff member that completed their staff survey

The appeal had been for £25,000 to simply replace the current diesel vehicle but the generosity of the general public meant the Foodbank were able to buy an electric van, ensuring they are reducing pollution while also delivering food to people in need. This will also be the first electric panel van supplied in Cardiff by car dealership Evans Halshaw. Large donations were received from Eversheds Solicitors, who ran a number of fundraising activities over this past year and raised £8000 towards the van appeal, and a Community Assistance grant of £5000 from Wales and West Housing was also awarded.

Quote – Cardiff Foodbank – Mark Tugwell, Logistics Manager 

“We are delighted to be able to purchase a new electric van to support our work across the city. The response to our Harvest and Christmas financial appeal has been overwhelming. The generosity we have seen this past year has been incredible.  So many have supported our work to ensure we can strengthen our resources to serve others in need across the City. Our appeal target was £25, 000 to replace our van with another diesel vehicle but we received an amazing £40,000. This extra funding has meant we have been able to purchase a full electric van which we believe, while helping us to support the people of Cardiff, will also help us move towards a greener future and environment. We are extremely thankful to everyone who has supported and helped us to make this purchase possible. We particularly want to thank John Collard, one of our volunteers who researched the electric vehicles, Geoff Cox at Evans Halshaw and Hammonds Graphics and Signs for van graphics”

Quote – Eversheds Sutherland

“Eversheds Sutherland has always supported the great work Cardiff Foodbank carries out for our local communities, and never has that work been more important. Our team in the Cardiff office is thrilled to have provided financial support through our Christmas fundraising initiatives, which has contributed to the purchase of the Foodbank’s new electric delivery van.” 


 

 

 

 

 

 


Downloads
Foodbank New van press release March 2021 [PDF]
Image – Geoff Cox (Evans Halshaw) & John Collard (Cardiff Foodbank)
Image – Geoff Cox (Evans Halshaw) & Mark Tugwell (Cardiff Foodbank)
Image – Cardiff Foodbank Vauxhall Vivaro e
Image – Cardiff Foodbank Vauxhall Vivaro e


Contact details

Cardiff Foodbank
email: [email protected]
website: www.cardiff.foodbank.org.uk
tel: 029 2048 4120

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