White Rose Shopping Centre has announced its new charity partner for 2020 – Leeds South and East Foodbank.
The Foodbank has been supporting South and East Leeds since 2013, and now has 11 distribution centres. In just one year from April 2019 to March 2020, more than 14,000 people used the Foodbank’s services.
While the partnership was agreed before the South and East Leeds communities were impacted by the country-wide coronavirus lockdown, the White Rose team are now keen to kick-start activity to support food bank users wherever possible during this time. Planned fundraising events have been temporarily postponed, and White Rose will instead be making an initial monetary donation of £4,500 to the organisation.
Steven Foster, General Manager of White Rose Shopping Centre, said: “Now more than ever, we each need to do whatever we can to support our local community. We’re really pleased to be working with the Leeds South and East Foodbank – it’s obvious to see the positive impact they have. We will get through this trying time together.”
The Foodbank’s Chair of Trustees, John Casey, added: “Leeds South and East Foodbank is thrilled about its partnership with White Rose Centre. We already know that the coronavirus is having a devastating effect on people’s lives and livelihoods, and as White Rose’s ‘Charity of the Year’ Leeds South and East Foodbank will use the additional resources to support more local people who lack the basic income to feed themselves and their families.”
The Leeds South and East Foodbank is currently running low on items including coffee, dilute juice, tinned fish, tinned potatoes, instant mash potatoes, tinned meat, UHT milk, and loo roll. If you can support with these items or make a donation to its emergency funds appeal, please visit https://leedssouthandeast.foodbank.org.uk/. Donations can also be made inside White Rose’s Sainsbury’s.
