LOCAL businesses from Whitchurch have teamed up once again to raise more than £600 to support the town’s foodbank.
Spurred on from last year's fundraiser the four Whitchurch businesses Refill Your Boots, Homefolk, Moo and Boom and Lukes Café Wine Bar wanted to help again and each donated a £30 voucher from their respective businesses, totalling a grand prize of £120 to be raffled off.
And they raised £631.
Whitchurch Foodbank – under the Trussell Trust charity – is part of a nationwide network of food banks that provide emergency food and support to people in need.
Alan Scutt, project manager at the Whitchurch Foodbank, is thrilled to receive another donation this year which will help a service that is seeing increased demand.
He said: "Financial support helps us to purchase the essential and in demand items that we're short of, so we're extremely thankful for the donation and the effort the local businesses have gone to help raise it. It will help tremendously toward our Christmas emergency food parcels."
The Trussell Trust has warned that the demand for emergency food is expected to increase further still and predicts they will be giving out 7,000 food parcels every day in December.
Maddie Ashbrook, owner of Moo and Boom explained: "With the increasing costs, the foodbanks have seen a huge increase in demand for their services.
"By giving Whitchurch foodbank the money we raised directly, they can buy the essential items they fall short on and ensure they can provide healthy and nutritious meals for the community."
Maria MacNae, owner of Refill Your Boots said the group wanted to collaborate again by supporting the foodbank and do what they can to help.
She said: " With more people than ever living below the poverty line, the support offered by the foodbank is essential and especially at this time of the year.
"For the first time ever, food banks are giving out more food than is being donated this is an emergency.
"It's brilliant that us as independent business can work together to support a local charity and our community, and we couldn't have done it without the help from our lovely customers."
One customer was thrilled to hear the news that they’d won the £120 vouchers.
Donna-Marie Williams, a local to Whitchurch and avid supporter of small independent business, received the news after it was announced at the Whitchurch Christmas Light Switch On in November.
Donna-Marie said: "We moved to Whitchurch in the summer, and one of the main reasons was the lovely high street and all the independent shops, cafes and the great community feel about the place.
"We can walk into town and get everything we need and more.
She continued: "I was delighted to hear I’d won the vouchers and look forwarding to spending them.
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"We’ve been doing our house up, and we’re nearly ready to start adding the finishing touches, so they’ll come in handy."
Lucy Young, co-owner of Homefolk added: "We’re so pleased for Donna-Marie, and what’s makes it extra special is that she regularly shops in town and is a familiar face to lots of us.
"We’re extremely thankful to everyone that supported our fundraising efforts, and we cannot thank the Whitchurch community enough."
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