Huge donation gives Feed a Family appeal a flying start

We’ve been given a helping hand by Lichfield Food Bank which due to the generosity of its supporters received a huge haul during the harvest celebrations.

Volunteers decided to spread some early festive cheer by passing on some of their stock to our campaign so it could benefit people in need further afield.

Bags of rice and pasta, tins of meat and vegetables and boxes of cereal and teabags are among the gratefully-received donations.

The mountain of food filled two vans and will now go to those in need across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

Chairman David Clarke said: “The people of Lichfield are very generous and have been very supportive.

“We have more than we need to feed people in our distribution area so this way we can share it with people who need it further afield.

“We recognise how valuable the Express & Star’s Christmas appeal is in supporting many, many families that otherwise wouldn’t have anything to eat at Christmas.”

The donation contained 200 cans of beans, 200 bags of pasta, 250 packets of rise, 175 jars of pasta sauce, 150 packets of pasta sauce, 120 tins of soup, 100 cans of meat, 100 jars and packets of cooking sauce, 80 boxes of tea bags, 80 tins of tomatoes and 60 boxes of cereal.

With the help of our readers we are aiming to provide families with Christmas treats they would otherwise not be able to afford, as well as supplying them with store-cupboard essentials to keep them going through the festive season.

The causes we are supporting this year are the Black Country Food Bank, which has centres across Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, The Well (Home of Wolverhampton Food Bank), the Good Shepherd Ministry, based in Wolverhampton, and Cannock and District Food Bank. We are also collecting chocolate selection boxes for the Haven refuge in Wolverhampton which provides both practical and emotional support services to women and children who are affected by domestic violence and homelessness.

These can be dropped off at our offices in Queen Street and will be given to youngsters to help spread some much-needed Christmas cheer. All of these good causes are helping individuals and families in need every day and have seen numbers needing support continue to rise.

It is easy to get involved with Feed a Family.The appeal will run until Saturday, December 14 and donations can be taken to the following drop-off points:

* Express & Star Wolverhampton head office: 51-53 Queen Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1ES

*Waitrose Wolverhampton, Marston Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4NJ

*Morrisons Bilston, Black Country Route, Bilston WV14 0DZ

*Tesco Heath Hayes, Hawks Green District Centre, Hayes Way, Cannock WS12 3YY