Stoneacre Supports Fundraising Appeal

In the depths of winter, when the cold winds are blowing and the rain is lashing down, it’s often the most vulnerable in our society who suffer the most. This is why Bridge Help’s Chesterfield Foodbank got together to launch a fundraising appeal, intending to help those who are struggling in difficult times. The campaign was a huge success, raising over £6,000 worth of food, toiletries and cash donations!

Bridge Help’s annual Chesterfield Foodbank, launched in November 2022, was a huge success! Not only did generous donations from brokers, suppliers friends and family bring the total to an impressive £3,000 but The short-term commercial finance provider matched all donations, bringing the final total to £6,000.

Just before Christmas, three vans packed with enough food and toiletries to fill a £4,400 haul were delivered to the local food bank. The food donated weighed in at more than 1.2 tonnes, enabling up to 1,300 meals to be made.

On top of that generous donation from our community members was an additional £1,600 cash sum given directly towards helping those in need during times when donations tend to slow down throughout the year.

Roisin O’Gorman from Chesterfield Foodbank thanked Bridge Help for the donation, saying:

This donation will make such a positive difference at this incredibly difficult time. Demand for the Foodbank has increased by 35% since last year and 50% from the year before. The food donated will help keep us stocked up throughout the year when our donations start to dry up.

Stoneacre Motor Group and Maxus put their best foot forward to help Bridge Help and Chesterfield Foodbank. They provided a £500 donation of food, as well as two vans driven by members of their team – allowing the collection to be loaded up with everything needed for transport straight through for distribution at its Carrwood Road Centre in Sheepbridge.

Donations were collected and stored at the firm’s offices on Old Brick Works Lane in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Amongst the donations, Bridge Help donated tins, pasta, long-life fruit juice and milk, as well as donated toiletries, chocolate and biscuit treats for Christmas. 

Arranged by the firm’s Business Development Manager Phoebe Sellars, who is also a trustee of Chesterfield Citizens Advice, she said:

Each year the Bridge Help Foodbank appeal raises more than the last, which truly amazed me this year as everyone is feeling the effect with the cost-of-living crisis. Once again, people have been so generous and enabled us to give our biggest donation ever. Being a trustee of Chesterfield Citizens Advice I know how much this donation is needed this year. More and more people are having to make the impossible decision between choosing whether to eat or heat. I am pleased that we have been able to make a small difference locally.

This was the third consecutive year Bridge Help has organised a collection and donation to Chesterfield Foodbank.

Bridge Help has made a tremendous impact in combating food insecurity with the launch of their Chesterfield Foodbank Appeal in 2019. To date, more than £11,000 donated funds have been used to supply and stock the Sheepbridge-based foodbank which is organised by The Trussell Trust. The Chesterfield Food distribution centre supplies six different foodbanks across Chesterfield – central Chesterfield, New Whittington, Loundsley Green Brimington Hope Valley and Hasland. The Hasland foodbank was opened up in April 2022 to meet growing demands for meals due to the cost-of-living increase amongst those who are employed yet still struggle financially as result.

Since its inception in 2013, Chesterfield Foodbank has been a source of support for individuals experiencing difficulties obtaining nutritious meals. By partnering with local agencies to provide vouchers, the food bank helps those in need access up to three days’ worth of sustenance and solidarity during tough times.

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It is heartening to see businesses and individuals come together with such generosity of spirit in order to help those who are struggling. The work that Bridge Help, Stoneacre Motor Group and Maxus have done for the Chesterfield Foodbank over the past three years has been nothing short of remarkable. Through their combined effort, they’ve managed to provide thousands of meals and other essential items for those in need throughout Chesterfield. We can only hope more people will be inspired by their example and join them in making a difference during the winter season – or any time during the year!