2 December 2022

Thousands of pounds worth of gift cards for local food banks 

Local food banks which are supported by customers at co-operative stores and funeral branches will be getting an extra boost this winter with £40,000 worth of gift cards.

Southern Co-op, which supports more than 70 food banks with collection points, will be sending out 4,000 community gift cards worth £10 each to help families and individuals affected by the cost of living increases.

A further £25,000 is being donated to Neighbourly’s Warm Communities Fund – set up to provide ‘needs-led’ micro-grants to charities and community groups providing ‘warm banks’, food donations and low-cost-to-prepare food items.

According to Neighbourly, a network representing over 22,000 local charities and good causes, 65% of these causes have a seen a drop in financial donations yet the average annual energy bill for community charities is expected to rise by 119% from £7,600 to £16,700.

Gemma Lacey, Southern Co-op’s Director Sustainability and Communications, said: “This winter will be especially hard for so many people in our local communities. On top of that, the local causes that people rely on for help, are also facing serious difficulties. 

“We hope this targeted support will help make a difference alongside our in store food banks which provide the opportunity for those who are able, to donate products to support their local community.

“It is times like these when the community co-operative spirit is essential as we all come together to do what we can.”

Community gift cards will be sent to more than 70 food banks supported by Southern Co-op’s Co-operative Food and Funeralcare branches. These include: Acts of Kindness Community (Solent); Alton - Trussell Trust; Andover - Trussell Trust; Appleford School on behalf of Salisbury - Trussell Trust; Banwell Food Bank; Basingstoke - Trussell Trust; Bath - Trussell Trust; Beacon Food Bank in Havant; Bognor Regis - Trussell Trust; Bournemouth - Trussell Trust; Bridgwater Food Bank; Brighton Food Bank; Burgess Hill Community Food Bank; Chichester District - Trussell Trust; Chichester Food Bank; Croydon Animal Samaritans; Eastbourne - Trussell Trust; Exeter Food Bank; Exmouth Food Bank; Exmouth Friends in Need; Fair Frome Food Bank; Faithworks Wessex; Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank; FareShare Brighton; Farnham Food Bank; Farnham - Trussell Trust; Gillingham - Trussell Trust; Gillingham Foodbank (Dorset); Hart - Trussell Trust; Hastings Food Bank - Trussell Trust; Haywards Heath - Trussell Trust; Help The Homeless Believe in Bristol; Helping Hands in Addlestone; Horndean Baptist Church; Horsham District Foodbank; Isle of Wight - Trussell Trust; Jacobs Well in Gosport; Julian Trust in Bristol; Just a Helping Hand in Chertsey; Keynsham Food Bank - Trussell Trust; Kings Church in Portsmouth - Trussell Trust; Kingswood Foodbank; Kinson & West Howe Foodbank - Trussell Trust; Lifehouse in Portsmouth; Liphook and Bramshott Foodbank; Littlehampton & District Food Bank; Lyndhurst Food Bank; Maidstone Food Bank; Meon Valley Food Bank; Nailsea Support Group; Newbury Soup Kitchen; North Bristol - Trussell Trust; North End Pantry in Portsmouth; Okehampton Food Bank; People's Pantry - Repton Community Trust; Petersfield Area Churches Together (PACT); Ringwood - Trussell Trust; Romsey Foodbank; Saint Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church in Bristol; Salvation Army Hove; Shoreham Foodbank; Southampton City Mission; Stripey Stork in Surrey; Sussex Homeless Support; Taunton - Trussell Trust; The Bridge Centre on Hayling Island; The Hub in Bradford on Avon; The Purple People Kitchen in Portslade; Warminster & District Food Bank; West Berkshire - Trussell Trust; Wimbledon - Trussell Trust; Wimborne Food Bank; Winchester Basics Bank; Wokingham Food Bank; Woodsy's Pantry in Porchester; Worthing Soup Kitchen; and YMCA Andover.

It is hoped that the gift cards will allow people the opportunity to select their own products and possibly a small treat for the season.

The gift cards are on top of the food bank donations made by store and funeral branch customers everyday. From January to September 2022, customers and members have donated 11,388kg of goods equating to approximately 4,783 meals.

Holly Bramble, Southern Co-op’s Community Lead, said: “We all need to look beyond Christmas and focus on continued support throughout the whole of the winter and beyond. 

“One way our customers can do this is by continuing to swipe their membership card every time they shop as 2p will be donated to our food bank partners each and every time they swipe.”

Funding for Healthier and More Inclusive local causes is available via Southern Co-op. To find out more about other donations and support available to local causes via Southern Co-op, visit https://southern.coop/how-we-do-it/community. 

Or for more information on Neighbourly’s Warm Communities Fund, visit https://hub.neighbourly.com/business-response.