Food banks in towns and cities across East Anglia have been inundated with essential supplies thanks to a drive from a leading local law firm.
Ellisons Solicitors brought Christmas cheer to five food banks in Bury St Edmunds, Colchester, Chelmsford, Frinton and Ipswich, with each receiving thousands of pounds worth of food and toiletries to hand out to those in need before the festive season. Scores of businesses joined in, donating essential supplies to Ellisons’ drive.
Ellisons, which has offices across Essex and Suffolk, originally pledged to donate an additional £10 for every box collected. However, to celebrate the tremendous efforts of staff across the firm, Ellisons increased its donation to £2,500. The funds will be shared equally with all five food banks.
Ian Seeley, Partner and Chair of Ellisons’ Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, said: “Christmas is a time for giving and we can think of no better way than helping the most vulnerable members of our community.
“Our team has worked hard to organise and deliver the donations to the food banks, and we would like to offer our sincere thanks to all our colleagues, clients and contacts as well as the wider public in generously donating to these important local charities. We couldn’t have done it without them.
“We hope our contribution will make a real difference to those in need this Christmas and beyond. On behalf of all the team at Ellisons Solicitors, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.”
Altogether, 35 food boxes were prepared and hand-delivered across the East of England and businesses across the region were eager to help out, contributing supplies to Ellisons campaign throughout the past few weeks*.
It comes as food banks have seen a surge in demand for their services in recent months due to the cost-of-living crisis.
If you wish to donate to your local foodbank, further details are as follows:
– Chelmsford – Chelmsford Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
– Colchester – Colchester Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
– Ipswich – FIND – Families in Need | Food Bank Ipswich (findipswich.org.uk)
– Frinton – Walton and District Community FoodBank | Walton-on-the-Naze | Facebook
– Bury St Edmunds – Foodbank – Gatehouse
*Donations were kindly received from Scrutton Bland, Viewpoint Accountants, IP21 Limited, Matthew Douglas and Handelsbanken.