By KLTV Newsdesk –
Two food banks in Kirklees have received a boost this month thanks to a significant donation from Locala Health and Wellbeing, a local community healthcare provider.
The donations, amounting to £20,000 each, were given as part of Locala’s social enterprise commitment to support the local community.
The Welcome Centre and Batley Foodbank, two of the largest independent food banks in the UK, will use the funds to purchase daily essentials and cupboard staples to help support those in need.
Emma, Fundraising Manager at The Welcome Centre, expressed her gratitude, saying that “this funding from Locala will help us as we purchase food essentials for the next 12 months. We are heading into one of our busiest years, and we are expecting the increase in demand to go up by 40%.”
Funding Support
The Welcome Centre has supported over 5,500 people in the last year, giving out 360,000 meals worth of food, with over 600 children per month.
The Batley Foodbank, meanwhile, uses donations to buy food parcels that cost an average of £20 per person.
The funds will also help their drivers deliver the food to those who need it the most.
From Left to Right: Andrew, Volunteer Driver at Batley Foodbank. Gemma Hutcheson, Communications Officer at Locala. Claire Jennings, Manager at Batley Foodbank.
Locala’s Chief Executive, Karen Jackson, visited the food banks earlier this month and saw first-hand the incredible work being done by staff and volunteers to ensure the most vulnerable people in the community are receiving support.
Jackson said, “We’re delighted to be able to support the fantastic work being carried out by both The Welcome Centre and Batley Foodbank, and we know that Locala’s donation will benefit the local community.”
Lifeline
Food banks have become a vital lifeline for many as the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact millions nationwide.
Locala’s donation will provide crucial support for these organizations, which are run entirely on donations and volunteer work.
People who wish to support food banks can do so through volunteering or donations.
To learn more about how to donate, visit the following websites: https://www.thewelcomecentre.org/pages/donate and https://batleyfoodbank.org.uk/how-to-donate/.
Locala provides community healthcare services to people living in Kirklees and other regions and is a social enterprise with a responsibility to provide additional benefits to the communities it serves
