BRILLIANT Redditch people have once again rallied round to support local charity Acts of Kindness – not only for Christmas but also well into the new year too.
Locals dug deep and showed their compassion, making cash donations to buy vouchers for childrens toys and buying extra essentials and goodies while doing their weekly shop to help the less well off.
The Reverend Robin Baker said approximately 460 people had benefited from this year’s Christmas hampers and toy gift vouchers.
Not only that but the Redditch foodbank was now in a sustainable footing for possibly the next two years.
“Because of the generous donations over Christmas we are now in a position to provide food for people well into next year,” he said.
“It means we are no longer scratching around for food and we are fortunate to have a good group of volunteers to call on too.
“We had a great response from our collections at Tesco, receiving more than two tonnes of food.”
That food, the equivalent of 5,500 meals, was topped up by an extra 20 per cent from the supermarket giant.
However he warned it was vital that support continued to further their work with the destitute, hard up and homeless in Redditch.
“It is vital people continue their support, knowing they are making a real difference in our town. We ask them to do what they can when they can so we are in a good position to help people,” he said.
In the run-up to the festive season Rev Baker cited the roll out of Universal Credit and increasing levels of poverty resulting in more people having to resort to the foodbank, situated at St Stephen’s Church in the town centre.
The people of Redditch duly responded, and with open hearts.
“I am always thankful for the people of Redditch. Businesses in Redditch too, one of which gave us £700 and many others who helped, schools too.
“One chap, a senior citizen gave me £100 to buy toys for the children. People are so generous,” said Rev Baker.
He also praised local logistics firm Oakland International.
“I’d like to thank them for their amazing generosity for letting us use their facilities as a base for storing food. They have been of tremendous help.”
Act of Kindness (AoK) are based at the Oasis Christian Centre on the corner of Plymouth Road and Bromsgrove Road.
Redditch foodbank operates from St Stephen’s Church and all recipients of aid must first be referred to them by a public body.
