Central England Co-op urges people across the West Midlands to donate a festive treat to help people in need as part of its annual Christmas Food Bank Appeal

Posted by james brindle | Published: 26/11/2019


Central England Co-operative is urging customers and members across the West Midlands to donate festive treats and everyday items as part of its 2019 Christmas Food Bank Appeal to help people in need.

The retailer worked closely with over 50 food bank providers last year to collect over 75,000 items as part of a special campaign and this year hopes that customers and members dig deep and donate in the run-up to Christmas.

Alongside items such as tea, tinned fruit and toiletries, food banks have this year again asked for people to ‘spread a little festive cheer’ by dropping off a Christmas treat such as chocolate into collection points at stores across the West Midlands including Erdington, Northfield, Yardley and Dudley.

The campaign follows the Society’s Christmas Toybox Appeal held during November which received fantastic backing and Central England Co-operative Chief Executive Debbie Robinson thanked customers and members for continuing to back these vital appeals.

She said: “Following the fantastic support our first ever Toybox Appeal received we are now turning our attention to our vital Christmas Foodbank Appeal which has helped to create and provide meals for people across the area in need over the last few years.

“The campaign relies on the wonderful generosity of our customers and members and I would like to thank them for their continued support and encourage them to again show their co-operative spirit so our food bank partners can provide emergency food and support to individuals and families in crisis.

“We are also issuing a plea on behalf of food banks to help spread a little Christmas cheer by donating a nice treat into our special collection points.

“All we are asking is that people drop off one or more items into our food banks this Christmas and help make a real difference in their community.”

The Christmas Food Bank Appeal will run from December 1 to December 24. The items will then be collected and made into food parcels.

These contain around 11 items and will provide at least three days’ worth of meals for those in need.

Items that can be donated include shopping basket staples from tea, sugar and cereals to other essentials such as toiletries and hygiene products to ensure people can maintain their dignity during times of crisis.

Food bank partner Peter Evans said: “We are delighted to support the Central England Co-op Christmas Food Bank Appeal.
“At this time of year it is critical that every food bank is stocked full of basic supplies and little treats to provide a real lifeline to families in need of support and ensure people don’t go hungry during the festive season.

“We are appealing to customers to back this vital campaign by donating an item or two and ensuring that the Christmas Food Bank Appeal is a major success.”

During Christmas 2013, Central England Co-operative Society trialled an in-store food bank collection and such was its success that the Society now has permanent food bank collection points in hundreds of its stores, which have resulted in thousands of people every month from Birmingham to Norfolk being given enough food to cook meals.

The Society works with over 50 different food banks to provide emergency food and support to individuals and families in crisis throughout the year.

Key items needed by foodbanks during the festive season:

  • Cereal
  • Tinned food
  • Sugar
  • Rice
  • Dried pasta
  • Pasta
  • Sauce
  • Biscuits
  • UHT milk
  • Fruit
  • Juices
  • Tea
  • Instant coffee
  • Toiletries

Notes to editors

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, travel shops, and property investment.

Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2019.

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to member activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 421390

Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop