In response to COVID-19, Business in the Community (BITC) established the National Business Response Network (NBRN) to identify and match community needs across the UK to the right business support.
With food poverty a major issue during the pandemic, Nestle donated 35 pallets of food, containing chocolate, cereal and water plus 1500 Easter eggs and McVities sent 180 boxes of cake bars.
BITC and Sheffield Business Together’s Carolynn McConnell said: “Through collaboration between Sheffield Business Together (SBT) and the Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley Chambers we made it happen for South Yorkshire. This encapsulates what SBT and BITC do best – connecting sectors to benefit our people and communities.
“It is great that 22 Sheffield and 30 Doncaster community organisations and food banks benefited. A big thank you to Roundabout, Food Works in Sheffield, Food Aware in Doncaster and their partners Strada Trading and J. P. Walton for helping with the off-loading, transport, distribution and storage. An amazing team effort!”
Ursula Myrie the founder and Managing Director of Adira said: “Adira is a survivor led organisation that supports black people with mental health issues. The black community has been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 on every single level and not just in terms of the amount of deaths.
“We set up a food pharmacy to help those struggling due to job loss, loss of the head of the household etc. We get a lot of tinned food, rice, pasta, eggs etc. donated, but things like sweets and chocolates are a luxury none of our service users can afford now, especially those with young children.
“So to say that the deliveries have been a Godsend is no exaggeration, even adults who don’t have children and have received them have said how grateful they are for them.”
Ashley Cooke from Food Works said: “During this difficult period, it’s been a pleasure to help logistically with the redistribution of food across Sheffield. It’s fantastic to see the whole city come together to help feed those in need, and even more so to see the impact working together at scale can have.”
