Ex-Goodyear workers donate £4,000 to Feed a Family This Christmas
A massive £4,000 worth of food and toiletries has been donated to our Feed a Family This Christmas appeal by former Goodyear workers.
It's the fourth year in a row that kind-hearted members of the 5/344 Transport and General Workers Union Benevolent Fund have chosen to support the campaign.
This incredibly generous gift of in excess of 6,000 items will go towards helping hundreds of families and individuals in need across Wolverhampton and the rest of the Black Country.
Nine huge trolleys were loaded with everything from cartons of fruit juice and long-life milk to tins of fish and meat and boxes of breakfast cereal and jars of hot chocolate.
There were also sweet treats including children's selection boxes for the festive season and essential toiletries such as shower gel and shampoo.
The trustees used their generous cash donation to buy supplies from Batleys cash and carry in West Bromwich and staff helped to select the items to ensure the group got the most for its money.
The donations have been shared between 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 The Haven, Wolverhampton.
Cyril Barrett, chairman of the benevolent fund, who was accompanied by colleagues Wayne Devaney and Roy Dudley at the handover, said the group was delighted to be supporting the appeal for another year.
"I think it's very, very sad that we are living in a society where people need food banks to survive. People are working all day to look after their families and they are still needing to go to food banks. It's not right.
"If, through this project, we can put a smile on the faces of families and children then that's what it's all about and what the Goodyear workforce were all about.
"The Express & Star appeal is about human decency and being a caring community. The Goodyear workers were decent, kind and caring people and that's why we are supporting this appeal again this year."
'Big boost'
Brother Charles Searson, from the Good Shepherd, said the group’s generosity would be a big boost.
"It's very valuable and very timely. Christmas is a busy time for us with lots of individuals and family come to us for extra help. This donation has come at just the right time, we're very pleased," he added.
Gary Price, from The Well, said: "We're very busy at the moment. The food goes out faster than it comes in at Christmas so this is going to be a big help."
Jen Coleman, from the Black Country Food Bank, said the charity was also very grateful the donation which would help to restock its shelves.
"The donation was incredibly helpful. The main items donated were from our shortages list. We had lots of fruit juice donated which we are very grateful for as we hardly have any on our shelves, so we are really thankful to Goodyear," she added.
Jade Secker, fundraising manager at The Haven, said: "We are so grateful for the selection boxes and chocolates donated by the former Goodyear workers.
"Sweet treats and gifts go such a long way in helping women and children experience Christmas the way they deserve to, helping them to build new happy memories together away from the fear of abuse. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported.”
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.
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.
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