Hundreds of items donated to help the vulnerable this Christmas

Loughborough College (@Lborocollege) donated hundreds of food, toiletry and gift items to support local people over the festive period as part of a national campaign.

Staff and students flooded the College’s reception with donations for the Trussell Trust as part of the FE Foodbank Friday campaign – a national, college-led campaign to support food banks at Christmas.

Hundreds of food, toiletries and other items were donated and delivered to the New Life Community Church in Loughborough, which is part of the Trussell Trust.

Anne-Marie Francis, Vice Principal at the College, said: “We feel extremely privileged to be in a position to donate the amount we have and I’m really proud of all the staff and students who came forward with donations.

“In the current economic climate, and especially at Christmas time, it is so vital that the community comes together to support our most vulnerable which is why we are so pleased to be part of the FE Foodbank Friday Campaign.”

The campaign grew out of Good for Me, Good for FE which is a nationwide, further education sector bid to harness the volunteering spirit and generosity of staff and students to generate at least £1m worth of social value through giving time or food donations over the next 12 months.

So far, the campaign has generated around £500,000 of social value.

Jules Ibbitt, the Loughborough Area Foodbank Manager for the Trussell Trust, said: “Thank you to everyone at Loughborough College who has donated. It really does make a difference and benefits a lot of people and families. It genuinely gives them hope.

“Donations like this are massive to us. This year and last year, we have provided food packages for around 5,000 people. It is busy and we are getting more referrals from more agencies than before. With gas and electricity prices rising and other increasing costs of living, families are getting hit particularly hard.

“That’s why I think we’re needed more than ever. We’ve noticed an increase in demand since the end of October and I think more needs to be done to help vulnerable people in our communities.”