Supermarket giant Morrisons has announced a new scheme to help restock the nation’s foodbanks during the coronavirus outbreak, setting aside £10 million worth of dedicated stock for foodbanks across the country.
From Monday 30th March, Morrisons will be sending special deliveries of food – such as pasta and canned goods – to stores for Community Champions to donate directly to foodbanks.
Rubery’s store will be supporting local foodbanks run by NewStarts and Northfield Community Partnership.
Stores will also be providing space for shoppers to donate items – to help facilitate donations, purchase limits on some products will be lifted from 3 to 4 items, with some restrictions being removed all together.Bakeries and other foodmaking sites will also be running for an extra hour every day to make, prepare and pack food required to restock the food banks.
Britain’s foodbanks, a critical source of food for the most vulnerable in our communities, are suffering badly during the current crisis, as donations have dried up rapidly over the last two weeks and demand has increased.
David Potts, CEO of Morrisons said: “As a food maker and shopkeeper we are uniquely placed to help. We know food banks are finding life very difficult and running our manufacturing sites for an extra hour each day to help restock them is the right decision at this time.
“The core purpose of all 96,537 colleagues at Morrisons is to play our full part in feeding the nation.”
Morrisons Rubery Community Champion Jane Williams has chosen to support two local foodbanks.
Northfield Community Partnership (NCP) is coordinating a united response to the COVID-19 outbreak, involving a large group of stakeholders across the constituency, including local organisations and groups, churches and others.
CEO Rebecca Debenham said: “We can’t thank Jane and Morissons enough for their generous donation towards our food bank, supporting the local COVID-19 response.
“This will help us to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community receive the food that they need during this crisis.”
Bromsgrove and Frankley based charity NewStarts provides free furniture, emergency food and household supplies to families and individuals on low incomes or in financial crisis. Their foodbank has been busier than ever since the outbreak began.
CEO Marion Kenyon said: “We think it’s absolutely fantastic that Morrisons as a company have decided that they will support their communities in this way.
“We have always had great support ourselves from the community champions at both Rubery and Bromsgrove, and are excited about this new venture, even though it has been prompted by such difficult circumstances for many local people.”
The Cafe at Morrisons in Rubery will be repurposed as a Donation Hub from Monday for those wishing to support local foodbanks.
Referrals:
NCP (B29 / B31 / B38 / B45): Call 0333 772 1931
NewStarts (B45 and B31 if Frankley Great Park ward): www.loverubery.com