Big- hearted Jaguar Land Rover workers fund a week's worth of food for Micah Liverpool
Factory workers from Jaguar Land Rover’s Halewood plant have raised over £1200 of donations for the city-centre based food bank run by Cathedral charity, Micah Liverpool.
The money raised funded a week’s worth of pantry sessions from 9th July, run by Micah Liverpool food bank at St Brides and the Parish Church of St Vincent’s De Paul for 250 to 300 people in need.
Volunteers from the Halewood plant also helped pack and distribute the emergency food aid to visitors on Tuesday 10th July.
Micah Liverpool, formerly known as Hope Plus, a joint project between Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King and St Bride’s, formed earlier this year and aims to end the poverty trap for people in the city and as well as offering a food bank now incorporates an employability programme and a community shop.
Paul O’ Brien, Executive Director of Micah Liverpool who manages the food bank said,
“This amazing donation will ensure we are able to feed the 250 people we are expecting this week. Jaguar Land Rover have really pulled out all the stops meaning people who need our emergency aid can get it. I would just like to thank Jaguar Land Rover and their staff at Halewood. Their donation will make a huge difference. Our food bank could not run without the support from businesses like this in the area.”
Employees from across the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood rattled tins and shook buckets to collect loose change while the Halewood Operations Employees' Charity Fund added £250 to the cause.
On Tuesday 10th July volunteers Leanne, Chantel, Lee and Nicky from Jaguar Land Rover Halewood went to help out at one of the pantry sessions in St Vincent’s Church, Liverpool. In the morning they helped prepare the emergency food aid bags while in the afternoon they assisted in the pantry session and gave away the bags to families in need of support.
Stuart Lord, Operations Director at Jaguar Land Rover Halewood, said: “As a responsible business we want to play an active role in building stronger communities through our employee volunteering programme. As well as supporting Micah Liverpool with funding and volunteers, this year we are aiming to donate more employee volunteering hours than ever to local good causes and projects.”
Micah Liverpool was formed in February 2018. Set up by Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King and St Bride’s, Micah Liverpool helps people out of poverty. The charity works with those who are unemployed or need food or related assistance to tackle hunger in an emergency situation. In April 2018 a community store was created. While it aims to help those who need food aid, it also aims to elevate food waste going to landfill and reduce the stigma around those needing to shop on a budget, by encouraging people in the local area to shop there, regardless of their need.