Huge boost for foodbank from Council staff

Published Tuesday, 11th December 2018

Council employees in Hartlepool have given the town's foodbank a huge boost after donating over half a tonne of items - the equivalent of 1,646 meals.

They donated a wide range of non-perishable food and toiletries throughout November as part of a Reverse Advent Calendar initiative run by The Children’s Hub.

Three collection points were set up on different floors of Hartlepool Civic Centre, and another was established at the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in Brierton Lane.

The items were collected recently and taken to the Hartlepool Foodbank in Church Street where they were found to weigh a total of 691.6kg.

Lisa Lavender (left) from Hartlepool Foodbank with Penny Thompson, Head of Service - The Children's Hub and Partnerships at Hartlepool Borough Council.

Lisa Lavender (left) from Hartlepool Foodbank with Penny Thompson, Head of Service - The Children's Hub and Partnerships at Hartlepool Borough Council.

Lisa Lavender, Deputy Co-ordinator of Hartlepool Foodbank, said: “When we arrived at the Civic Centre to collect the items we were staggered to see just how much had been donated.

“We are so grateful everyone who contributed, your generosity will help us to bring some Christmas cheer into the lives of some of Hartlepool’s neediest families.”

Penny Thompson, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Head of Service - Children’s Hub and Partnerships, added: “There was a brilliant response to the Reverse Advent Calendar and I would like to thank everyone who supported the initiative.”