Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith is praising and thanking everyone who generously took part in the reverse advent calendar appeal for her chosen charity of the year, Wokingham Foodbank. Donations received at the council’s office reception area in Shute End in Wokingham weighed more than 657 kilograms – the equivalent weight of four adult sized reindeer*.
About the appeal
The appeal collected twenty-four food and festive items for the Wokingham Foodbank who donated onto local people struggling with the cost of living, rising energy, fuel and food prices. It was open to everyone to take part, including borough councillors, residents and people who work, study or provide services to Wokingham Borough.
Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith said: “I am so proud of everyone who took part in this very worthy appeal. The reverse advent calendar donation area at our council offices kept overflowing thanks to the generosity of our residents, borough councillors and community. Your contributions have been outstanding and you have helped so many local people in need have a happier Christmas. A huge well done and thank you for supporting the appeal.”
Annette Medhurst, manager at Wokingham Foodbank said: “We were delighted by the community response to our reverse advent appeal, the warehouse was certainly a very full and festive space in the run up to Christmas. December was our busiest month on record and it was fantastic to be able to distribute so many nice extras to households at such an expensive time of year.
“One resident who attended the Foodbank was very grateful to receive items from the appeal. She commented that her children had asked if they would have crackers to open on Christmas Day. She considered them a luxury item and couldn't justify the cost. Thanks to the overwhelming donations received, she was able to select a box of crackers she thought her children would enjoy. On behalf of the Wokingham Foodbank, I would like to thank and applaud everyone who donated to our appeal.”
During the six-week run up to Christmas, the Wokingham Foodbank in Winnersh received more than 3,418 kilograms of donations, the majority including for the reverse advent calendar appeal - the equivalent weight of 20 adult sized reindeer*.
The total weight donated from residents, supermarkets, schools and local businesses to the appeal totalled to more than 17,929 kilograms – the equivalent weight of 108 adult sized reindeer*.
The Wokingham Foodbank is one of many organisations working alongside the council to help residents with rising food, energy and other costs. Visit the council’s cost of living help hub for all the latest support.
About the Wokingham Foodbank
The Wokingham Foodbank is a project founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in the local area. It is a foodbank available to all borough residents to use and is staffed mainly by volunteers. The Foodbank relies on the generosity of the people of Wokingham Borough and surrounding areas to donate sufficient food, supplies and cash to allow them to carry out this much needed service to local people in need.
During the six-week run up to Christmas, the Wokingham Foodbank received 395 referrals which led to providing food support to 656 adults and 487 children, totalling 1,143 local people.
The Wokingham Foodbank also participated in A Christmas Presence project and made up 330 hampers to be distributed to local families experiencing hardship to select gifts for their children. The total weight of items distributed during this period was more than 11,957 kilograms – the equivalent weight of 72 reindeer*.
*Calculated using The Measure of Things website. Based on each adult reindeer weighing approximately 166 kilograms. Donation weight figures from Wokingham Foodbank and include donations received during the six-week run up to Christmas.
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