Rotary club donates £2K worth of essential items to Northampton food banks as members forfeit lunch refunds

A rotary club in Northampton has donated thousands of pounds worth of food to three local food banks.

Northampton Rotary Club, which usually meets at Miller and Carter, in Round Spinney, every Monday for lunch, has had to cancel its meetings during the pandemic lockdown.

The members of the club had already paid for the weekly lunches, so rather than accept a refund they unanimously agreed to use the money to support local food banks.

From tinned food to nappies, the club donated £2,000 worth of essentials to Re:store, St Albans Church and The Hope Centre on Friday (April 24).

David George, who has been a rotary club member for 26 years, said: “We started supporting Re:store six years ago.

“We usually do four big collections a year, which are normally a car load of food donated from rotary members.

“The crisis we are in at the moment, not just the pandemic, the need in food banks is higher.

“I suggested to my club that we don’t claim our money back for the lunches and contribute to the food banks instead.

“Over two months that’s around £1,000.”

Once David had gained the support of his fellow members, he contacted the district responsible for 87 rotary clubs in East Anglia to ask for a grant, who agreed to add £1,000 to what the club raises.

With £2,000 to spend, two members who do not need to self-isolate, visited Waitrose in Kingsthorpe, where they bought essentials such as tinned meat, fish and fruit, toilet roll, and sanitary products.

The volunteers, who borrowed a van from The Hope Centre and also used a large car, then delivered the goods to the three food banks around the town.

David, who could not help with the delivery as he is self-isolating, believes supporting food banks in this way is so important in the current climate.

“I think helping food banks is essential. It has been going on for a long time but because of the pandemic it is even worse,” continued David.

“People are poor and can not get out, other people have lost their jobs so more and more people are coming to food banks.

“The pandemic has brought people together and a lot of people are being very generous.

“Our members really wanted to help out.”

The food and other essential items that have been donated to the local food banks will help those who are struggling most during the pandemic.

Louise Danielczuk, fundraising and marketing manager at The Hope Centre, added: “Northampton Hope Centre are always pleased to have the support of Northampton Rotary Clubs and this is an incredible support that helps us at this really difficult time.

“The food will go directly to feed the hungry of Northampton.”

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