Across the UK, many families are struggling with the severe financial challenges posed by the Cost-of-Living Crisis that we find ourselves in. As a family run company that places immense value in our local community ties, we are always on the lookout for ways we can give back and bring hope to those during that struggle. The prevalence of food banks and in the UK in the last decade underlines the heart-breaking fact that ordinary people are struggling to put food on the table. It’s a situation that is hard to accept.
Local businesses have to recognise their role not only as a key service provider, but also as community enabler, adding value to local lifestyle. In respect of this, one of our key initiatives is our partnership with the Billericay Food Bank, and our bid to drive its profile, donations, and deliveries to families most at need.
We help enable this important service in three key ways:
Deliveries
Every Thursday our Operations Manager, Matt Ockelford, personally volunteers to deliver food parcels to families in the local area. He, like many other volunteers, work hard to ensure families who may be vulnerable or cannot directly access the foodbank do not go without.
Supply
Our network of mobile engineers form links to collect surplus food from a variety of sources to help supply the food banks. We see it as our social duty to not only promote, but also enable the network upon which food is distributed to foodbank users.
Profile
We include links to the foodbank on our email correspondence to help promote the great work of the food bank and get our customers thinking about how they can play an important role.
The Billericay Food Bank – A crucial community service
Founded in 2018 to help tackle rising food poverty, the Billericay Food Bank currently makes almost 100 deliveries to families across the district each week. And that number is only growing given the situation around inflation and the rising price of energy.
Jim Rose, who helps to run the Billericay Food Bank sees this plight and commends the businesses and individuals who have really stepped up:
“This increase has been matched by a fantastic community response in terms of donations, but also in the number of people coming forward, offering to help as volunteers…”
“…Various community groups and organisations have also lent a helping hand and meant that we can offer support to families who are really struggling at the present time.”
Jim Rose, Billericay Food Bank
Colt’s Matt Ockelford adds:
“It is a highlight of my week to be able to personally help out the Billericay Food Bank and the wider community. To see volunteers from all different backgrounds united in their approach to helping those less fortunate is a source of faith-restoring inspiration. Whether it is a just a small food contribution, a financial donation or even if you could spare a few hours each week, I’d ask you to dig deep to support this brilliant cause and be the difference for local families out there.”
Matt Ockelford, Colt Security Systems
You can make the help make the difference too. If people would like to make a financial donation, they can get in touch with the group at info@billericayfoodbank.org.uk. The group is also encouraging people to use its Billericay Food Bank App, where people can find weekly updates:
Billericay Food Bank – Apps on Google Play
Billericay Food Bank App on the App Store (apple.com)
While we alone cannot solve this issue, we understand the important roles local businesses can take in community support and would welcome enquiries from other businesses to either share their stories or find out where they can do more. In the meantime, why not check out the wonderful work the Billericay Food Bank does in enabling local families and fighting food poverty.
