The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Crowland Food Bank has received a huge boost this week thanks to the Donate A Dinner appeal.
It has been the recipient of 30 freshly prepared meals donated by Kelly Newman, of A Country Kitchen, along with a number of Easter eggs from Spalding’s Sainsbury’s store and a selection of non-perishable items donated through the appeal.
Last week Sainsbury’s donated a huge 650 Easter eggs, which have been distributed across the district to key workers at Spalding Ambulance Station and Spalding Fire Station and to South Holland Children’s Services and Spalding and Pinchbeck COVID Kindness Team, who will give them out to vulnerable families.
The Spalding and South Holland Voice has teamed up with South Holland district councillor Harry Drury to launch Donate A Dinner.
Donate A Dinner aims to ensure that those children who would usually get a free school meal don’t go hungry while schools are closed.
Harry collected the eggs from Sainsbury’s and then took them out to worthy recipients across South Holland.
He said: “One of my biggest concerns when starting seeking any appeal for donations and help from the community is the fact that very often, we naturally see a surge in donations in the first weeks, which then starts to decline as time goes on.
“This is natural as those who are able to donate, usually do in the early stages. During this appeal however, and indeed across community groups throughout the district, we continue to see new and substantial levels of donations, volunteers and support.
“This really goes to show what an incredible and cohesive community we actually have in South Holland.
“I think it is also important to remember the whole district. I am the ward member for Spalding St.Mary’s together with Lord Porter and we respond to and assist with issues within that ward, however, when being elected as a district councillor, you become jointly responsible for matters relating to all areas of the district, not just for the area which elected you.
“It is in unprecedented times like this that this becomes more important to remember, to ensure that any support we are able to give does not just relate to one small area, but the whole of South Holland and gets to the people who need it.
“This week the appeal served Crowland, Spalding and Pinchbeck, next week we will be supporting Gosberton and surrounding villages too, so if your area needs support, please do get in touch.
“With the extremely generous donation from Sainsbury’s, we were also able to give a token of gratitude and thanks to our local ‘blue light heroes’, the local fire crews who have been extremely bust working on the front line both responding to fires, RTCs and medical emergencies and also to the NHS staff of the local Community Hospital and Ambulance Station.
“We have continued to work with Lincolnshire County Council Children’s Services who received and distributed a massive donation of Easter eggs to vulnerable children throughout the district.
“Thank you so much to everyone who continues to donate and to the businesses who support our appeal. You are all community heroes.”
The appeal is asking for donations of basic storecupboard essentials such as pasta, rice, tinned goods, bread and packet sauces.
Once people have left their goods at the collection point Coun Drury will ensure they are distributed to those families most in need at this time.
If you are unable to get to Sainsbury’s but would still like to help, please get in touch and Harry will endeavour have your donation collected from your home.
Please email hdrury@sholland.gov.uk or rachel@spaldingvoice.co.uk with your details to request a collection.
