An older person’s inpatient service ward at EPUT is taking donations for a local food bank
Staff at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) have teamed up with the Thurrock Foodbank in a bid to help vulnerable people in the local community who need an emergency food supplies.
A collection point for donations has been set up on EPUT’s Meadowview ward, which is based at Thurrock Community Hospital, for staff to donate items.
Thurrock Foodbank has seen a drop in donations in recent months due to the cost of living crisis, but demand for its services has gone up.
Since last April, it has fed more than 9,500 people and this is set to increase further over the coming year.
In a bid to help boost donations, Meadowview staff housekeeper Kelly Polley, ward clerk Karina Gittleson and support worker Tracy Hart, set up the collection point and have encouraged staff across Thurrock Community Hospital to support the local community.
Helen Watts, Thurrock Foodbank administrator, said: “We really do appreciate the new collection point at Meadowview, which gives staff and visitors the chance to donate and help us support Thurrock residents in crisis.
“We are very reliant on our community collection points to provide the donated food we need to give out to our clients. If we don't get enough food donated, we have to buy it out of our funds, which is not sustainable so that's why our collection points are so vital.
“We are looking forward to a long partnership with Thurrock Community Hospital with the collection point at Meadowview Ward.”
Ward manager Alina Kutraite said: “I am really pleased we have been able to help local communities during a time of need by encouraging people to leave donations for the local food bank.
“The idea of setting up the donation point came from the Thurrock Foodbank Facebook page, where they were calling out for the donations to support local community.
“Some of the staff at Meadowview live locally and were really keen to support local charities, including the foodbank. We are really grateful to all members of staff who have contributed so far and would like to encourage others to help where they can.”
The collection point is based in the reception of the Meadowview Ward and is open 24 hours. People can leave their donations in the provided foodbank creates.
Kelly, Karina and Tracy are also doing Easter appeal to collect money to buy Easter eggs for the foodbank to donate to local children.
Thurrock Foodbank was launched in 2012 and has helped thousands of adults and children in crisis. It has a warehouse and ten distribution centres, which are all run by volunteers and hosted in local churches.