Express & Star

Charity foundation joins Feed a Family appeal

A charity working hard to help individuals and families suffering hardship has pledged its support to the Express & Star's Feed A Family This Christmas appeal.

Published
Shaz Saleem of The Saleem Foundation with trustee Karen Wilcox and chairman Steve Waltho

The Saleem Foundation, which is based in Dudley, will be collecting donations throughout the four-week campaign.

It was set up in memory of tireless charity campaigner Mohammed Saleem, who dedicated his life to helping those less fortunate.

Founder Shaz Saleem said: “We are very proud to be supporting the Express & Star's Feed a Family project.

"We ourselves organised the United Hands project and currently are running the Winters Warmers appeal, both aimed to support those in need. I think its a fantastic initiative and the beauty is people are helping people who we have never met, and that's how it should be done, no other motive other than the fact we care."

Between now and December 14, we are collecting donations of food to provide families with Christmas treats they would otherwise not be able to afford, as well as supplying them with store cupboard essentials to keep them going through the festive season.

The causes we are supporting this year are the Black Country Food Bank, which has centres across Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, The Well (Home of Wolverhampton Food Bank), the Good Shepherd Ministry, based in Wolverhampton, and Cannock and District Food Bank.

We are also collecting chocolate selection boxes for the Haven refuge in Wolverhampton which provides both practical and emotional support services to women and children who are affected by domestic violence and homelessness.

These can be dropped off at our offices in Queen Street and will be given to youngsters to help spread some much-needed Christmas cheer.

Sam Billingham, who is a trustee for the Saleem Foundation and an ambassador for The Haven in Wolverhampton, said: "As a survivor of domestic abuse, I know how difficult Christmas can be for many and I'm delighted to see how the Express & Star are supporting the community at this time of year.

"Christmas isn't a magical time for everyone, many women and children will be fleeing domestic abuse and spending it in refuge, which is why I'm reaching out to individuals and businesses and asking them to take chocolate selection boxes to The Express & Star head office to take to The Haven Wolverhampton in order to spread a little festive cheer."

All of these good causes are helping individuals and families in need every day and have seen numbers needing support continue to rise.

Donations can be taken to:

*Express & Star Wolverhampton head office: 51-53 Queen Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1ES

*Waitrose Wolverhampton, Marston Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4NJ

*Morrisons Bilston, Black Country Route, Bilston WV14 0DZ

*Tesco Heath Hayes, Hawks Green District Centre, Hayes Way, Cannock WS12 3YY

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