Mears helps Leeds foodbank deliver parcels to people in need

The food bank, which is supported by The Trussell Trust, works to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. Because of COVID-19, parcels are now delivered to people’s homes by volunteer drivers.

The van will help staff and volunteers to travel across south and east Leeds to deliver food to a temporary mini-warehouse, pick up food donations and distribute emergency food to the most vulnerable in society, during this pandemic and in the future.

The food bank has seen an increase in local people needing its services since lockdown started. From March 2020 to mid-July 2020 they fed 3,138 people including 1,282 children, which was a 45 per cent increase in comparison to figures from last year.

Garry Jamieson, Mears head of operations at Leeds, said, “Mears works in some of the most marginalised communities in the UK and these are difficult times for all of us. We must all do our part to help the most vulnerable people in the community.

“Because of COVID-19, children have been out of school for much longer than anyone anticipated and families who were depending on free school meals have been left trying to make already tight budgets stretch further and many have needed assistance from the food bank just to feed their children.

“No one in our communities should have to face going hungry and we are glad that our van will help make a positive difference to their lives.”