2023 has been a year of difficulty and hardship for many in our local communities. In the build up to Christmas, we once again proudly donated to Stratford Upon Avon Foodbank. This year, our £6000 donation supported the Foodbank in creating 421 Christmas hampers filled with treats such as Christmas puddings, cakes, beverages, festive gifts, and essential tinned goods. The hampers will benefit 569 adults and 584 children.
Christmas can be a difficult time for people who are struggling financially. While some of us are fortunate enough to enjoy festive treats, others find they will have to go without. No one should go without during the festive season, and our donation was a small step towards making a big difference. Caroline Sampson, Assistant Manager and Operational Lead of Stratford upon Avon Foodbank said:
"The demand on Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank has increased in 2023 and we are now feeding on average 434 people a month, which is a 35% on figures from this time last year. We knew the nominations from local support agencies for our Christmas hampers would be popular so it was important to source funding to ensure we could produce them. The Heart of England Community Energy has very generously given £6000 and funded 48% of the project! On behalf of the Trustees, staff and volunteers, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your kindness. The hampers were a great success. We gave out 421 hampers which will benefit 569 adults and 584 children this Christmas time. Thank you so much Heart of England for your unwavering support."
About Heart of England Community Energy:
Heart of England Community Energy is a community benefit society. We own one of the UK's largest community solar farms, a 15-megawatt array just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. We channel the surplus income from our solar farm into supporting those facing challenges with the cost of living. We also fund initiatives that help our community reduce its energy consumption. As a not-for-profit enterprise, our goal is to bring the benefits of local energy to the Heart of England region.
Discover how you can benefit from our local energy services and grant funding: https://www.hecommunityenergy.org/local-energy-services-and-funding