One of Derby’s well-known business figures has launched a £50,000 Christmas appeal with city charities to prevent needy families and individuals going hungry over the festive season.
Claire Twells of Smith Partnership Solicitors, is hoping to persuade 100 businesses to donate £500 to Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance.
Ten (Smith Partnership, Evad Communications, Specsavers, Cosy Foundation, Colleague Box, Champions, Midland Lead, Balls2Marketing, Smith Cooper, Oberoi Consulting and Derbyshire Lord Lieutenant Liz Fothergill) have already signed up, paying a total of £5,000.
Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance was initially set up in 2020 to respond to the immediate needs of people in Derby at the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020.
It has now progressed to being a longer-term solution supporting the root causes of deprivation and poverty.
Its team works with The Community Hub and 11 food banks around Derby and has given out more than 25,000 food parcels in the city. Last Christmas it delivered food parcels to 850 children across the city.
Claire said: “The £500 donation will provide ten basic family food parcels for a family of two adults and two young children. I really hope business owners can find it in their hearts to help at a time which is so difficult for some families.”
The money would then be spread across the 11 food banks at The Salvation Army, covering Littleover and Mickleover, The Hope Centre (city centre and Darley Abbey), All Churches Together (Alvaston, Allenton, Wilmorton and Boulton), Springwater (Chellaston, Shelton Lock, Osmaston, Sinfin and Stenson Fields), Project Derby (city centre, Normanton, Allenton and Sinfin), Padley Shop (city centre and emergency provision), Padley Centre (provides hot meals and ready meals for people who have no cooking facilities), Food and Education Enterprise (whole of Derby, mainly supporting refugees), Mandela Centre (Peartree), Derby City Mission (city centre), The Pakistan Community Centre – (specialist Halal foodbank, covering mainly Normanton, Arboretum and Sunny Hill) and Aspire Community Shop (Derwent, Chaddesden, Spondon and Oakwood), Ashbourne Road Church (Mackworth and Morley).
Claire added: “It is so sad that people need food banks but, while they do, I think it would be wonderful for those who are better off to help them.”
Using the QR code
or by BACS transfer directly to:
Bank: Lloyds Bank
Account Name: Community Action Derby Ltd
Sort Code: 30-92-59
Account No: 03323744
If you can quote ‘Food for Thought’ this will help allocate the funds.
Those interested can also contact Claire at Claire.Twells@smithpartnership.co.uk or Debbie Jones at DF4TA on Deborah.jones@communityactionderby.org.uk
