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Rugeley travel agency sets up food collection after its own revival in fortunes

Workers at a travel agency whose jobs were saved have set up a food collection to help residents in crisis.

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Hays Travel's food bank collection

Staff at The Hays Travel, in Upper Brook Street, in Rugeley, are now working in partnership with the town's food bank service as a food drop-off point.

Residents are being urged to bring in items for distribution to families in need and to boost stocks.

Goods currently in short supply include toiletries, toothbrushes, sanitary items, dried food such as pasta, rice, noodles, tinned items, long life milk or cream, long life sauces with good consume by date.

The team suddenly found themselves out of work when their former employer Thomas Cook collapsed five months ago and decided to help others facing crisis in their lives.

Branch manager Michelle Savvides said: “We were all devastated when we lost our jobs at Thomas Cook. It really brought it home how quickly things can change. We want to be able to provide help to those in our local community who may have gone through something similar.

"We were offered a lifeline by John and Irene Hays and this is our way of offering one to others.”

The food bank, supported by the Trussell Trust, is working to combat poverty and hunger by providing three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support via referrals from statutory agencies.

Rugeley Foodbank manager Dave Webb praised the business for setting up the collection.

Mr Webb said: "Food banks offer a lifeline to people who are unable to afford the basics, but they are only able to provide this vital support thanks to the generosity and mobilisation of their communities.

“Hays Travel has totally embraced this ethos and has taken the initiative in collecting food from the general public and donating it to the food bank. It is a real privilege to be working together with other local organisations in serving the community and bringing good to Rugeley.

"This outstanding contribution will help revive hope and restore dignity to the less fortunate people in our town and surrounding areas."

The travel agency staff got their roles back after Hays Travel owners John and Irene Hays took over the Thomas Cook branches when it fell into administration rescuing 2,500 jobs.

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