Many hands make light work at Caterham Foodbank
Caterham-based company Hawke Financial Services answers call to help local charity
The team behind Caterham Foodbank welcomed new recruits from local business Hawke Financial Services on Monday, July 4 when the charity needed assistance unloading, checking and sorting donations at its warehouse in Quadrant House.
The organisation has foodbanks at Caterham Baptist Church, Oakhall Church in Chaldon Road and King’s Church in Oxted and provides three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to Tandridge people who are in food poverty.
Robin Fawke, partner at Hawke Financial Services, said it was great for companies not only to help by making donations, but to give their time to assist when needed.
Mr Fawke said: “We have been based in the town for some years. Caterham is a great place to live with a strong community and it is important that we come together to help one another.
“The Foodbank volunteers are doing a really worthwhile job and it is a privilege to help and to find out more about all the work that goes on to make sure people have something to eat.”
Throughout their visit Mr Fawke, along with fellow Hawke Financial Services partner Peter Hunt and six team members from the Croydon Road-based company, were kept busy sorting more than a tonne of food donations. Each item is stored according to shelf life and type of product.
Euan Lee, Caterham Foodbank’s warehouse co-ordinator, said: “Today’s delivery has come from Tesco and probably represents about a month’s worth of donations by Tesco customers, which will help meet about three weeks’ demand for food parcels.
“It is great having everybody here today. They are a big help and, as you can hear from the laughter in the background, we’re having lots of fun. It really is a team effort, and we are well on course to process all 88 crates of donated food.
Mr Lee continued: “We are very grateful to everyone from Hawke who is here. As Foodbank operations take place during working hours, it is difficult for working people and businesses to help with their time, but today’s activity is invaluable in helping us deal with this bulk donation, which generally only happens a few times a year. And it’s fantastic to hear that the guys from Hawke are planning on returning to help with similar occasions in the future.”
Caterham Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of about 1400 foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. To find out more about their work and how you can help support it, visit: caterham.foodbank.org.uk
