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Bloxham Mill food drive supports Banbury Foodbank
24/05/2021
Initiative launches during week of World Hunger Day in a quest to help those struggling
Bloxham Mill Business Centre is calling on generous business owners and the local community to help people struggling with food essentials. The venue, which plays host to a number of businesses either on-site or virtually, is organising a local food drive.
The initiative has been launched in the week of World Hunger Day.
Emma McGregor, Commercial Director of Bloxham Mill Business Centre, feels the last year has been a really tricky one for people from all different walks of life. Emma said: “I was following someone in the supermarket who couldn’t pay for their shopping. It wasn’t luxury items, it was tins of formula and nappies. It breaks your heart.
“Anything we can do to help people who are having a bit of a tough time, then we are happy to help.”
People are being asked to drop off non-perishable food items during office hours (9am to 5pm) Monday to Friday, until 30 June. All donations will be passed to Banbury foodbank, which is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust.
Sarah Williams, Manager of Banbury foodbank, said: “We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. Our food bank relies on goodwill and support, so we are grateful to Emma and the team at Bloxham Mill for organising a local food drive. Big or small, every gift you give helps transform lives.”
World Hunger Day is an initiative celebrating sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty.
Some 700,000 UK households used a food bank in the year prior to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a study on food poverty. Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK wide network distributed 2.5 million emergency food parcels to people in crisis, a 33% increase on the previous year. 980,000 of these went to children.
Emma McGregor said: “Oxfordshire is one of the best places to live and work in the UK, so nobody in our community should have to face the struggle of putting food on the table. We are asking business owners and residents to buy just one or two extra items with their weekly food shop and drop them off to us here in Bloxham. Together we can stop others in our local community going hungry.”
A food parcel for a family provides three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food. As well as cupboard staples, right now the food bank is in urgent need of long-life juice, long-life milk, rice, curry and Chinese sauces, baby formula and larger nappies.
Bloxham Mill Business Centre can be found on the Barford Road heading out of Bloxham. The centre offers ample free parking for people to drop-off their donations.
Bloxham Mill has recently undergone a major refurbishment. It provides a new concept of office, co-working, meeting, and networking facilities, to help businesses at different life stages thrive.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam