Efficiency North’s board and executive team were delighted to welcome Chair of the S2 Food Bank John Hull and bookkeeper Samantha Nicholson to Collaboration Works on Thursday 8th December to receive a donation of £2,500 for the Sheffield Food Bank network.
The board made the donation in response to a call for support from the Sheffield Business Together Foodbank campaign.
The board and executive team were gathered for their annual strategic business planning day, which has historically taken place in an external venue. This year it was decided to re-direct the cost of hiring a venue into the foodbank donation instead.
Due to the cost-of-living crisis causing unprecedented demand and reduced donations, the 26 foodbanks in the Sheffield Food Bank network are experiencing an increase in demand, with referrals up 200% in some cases. With donations also reducing, they’ve been struggling to support some of the most vulnerable people in the city. Direct donations such as these from local businesses make an immediate and significant difference.
Since it was launched at the start of the Covid pandemic in April 2020, the Sheffield Business Together Foodbank campaign has managed to raise over £250,000, which has been shared with the 26 food banks in the Sheffield Food Bank network.
Efficiency North Chief Executive Lee Parkinson said, “We were all honoured to meet John and Sam and find out more about their work in the Sheffield Food Bank network. Efficiency North are thankful for this opportunity to target contributions and provide immediate help to the foodbanks and people who use them through the Sheffield Business Together Foodbank campaign.”
Samantha Nicholson, bookkeeper for the S2 foodbank network said,” It was an honour to be presented with the very kind donation from Efficiency North on behalf of the Food Bank Network. We are seeing an increase in the number of users of Food Banks across the city and without the support of our generous donors we would struggle to meet the demand.”
Rachel from Burngreave food bank explained the difference donations have made; “We would not have been able to meet this level of increase in demand without the support of our donors and are so grateful for the generous donations that we received due to the Sheffield Business Together campaign. It's easy for numbers to hide that fact that each food parcel represents a struggle by an individual or family to put food on the table, and all the distress and hardship that accompanies this situation. The relief seen on some faces as they receive the food parcel tells the true meaning of these donations".
If you’d like to back the campaign you can donate by PAYPAL or cheque by visiting the food bank website: https://s2foodbank.org.uk/.