£5,000 donation helps residents during coronavirus lockdown.
Community group Spitfire Services are helping local residents of Castle Vale through the current outbreak with their food bank, and can now further this offer of support following a £5,000 donation fromThe Pioneer Group.
Spitfire Services works to combat poverty and hunger within their local community in addition to offering a wealth of advice around money, benefit, housing or employment issues. With the newly received funds, the charity will be able to increase provisions of emergency food to people in crisis.
Due to the coronavirus lockdown, the food bank has seen an uptake in usage and is currently helping over 100 families per week in comparison to an average of forty in February.
Ray Goodwin, CEO of Spitfire Services, said: “While we have always been working to tackle food poverty and hunger in our local community, we have seen a significant increase due to the impact of the virus. This is a difficult time as more people, including myself, are having to self-isolate due to having symptoms or underlying health conditions.”
“Now more than ever we are incredibly thankful for The Pioneer Group’s generous donation. Our strong partnership with the group is supporting efforts to make a difference, feed more families, and, I do believe, save people’s lives.”
Unlike other food banks, recipients do not need food vouchers. Instead, the food bank accepts referrals from organisations such as The Pioneer Group and its subsidiaries, including Compass Support, community groups, and the local MP.
Simon Wilson, CEO of The Pioneer Group, said: “The food donations that Spitfire Services provide are absolutely vital; nobody in our community should have to face going hungry.”
“In times of crisis, we all need to pull together, and I am proud of the team at The Pioneer Group who are seeking out those in our community in most need and ensuring that they have access to food. This is made possible by working in partnership with Spitfire Services food bank.”
Spitfire Services are now also working together with The Pioneer Group to offer a food parcel delivery service to those who are vulnerable and unable to visit the food bank in person.