Avanti West Coast teams up with foodbank to help those in need

• Avanti West Coast creates dedicated foodbank donation point at station
• Partnership designed to make it easier for people to help those in need
• Customers and community invited to support vital service with food donations

Avanti West Coast has teamed up with a local foodbank to offer a dedicated donation point at a Staffordshire station ahead of National Food Bank Day.  

At Stoke-on-Trent, Avanti West Coast Customer Service Assistant, Zeb Nash, set up a donation point for the city’s foodbank that is supported by The Trussell Trust, who work to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. 

Zeb, who volunteers as a dedicated Avanti West Coast Community Champion, wanted to revive the collections made by Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank after they were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The partnership comes as the UK today (Friday 6 September) marks National Food Bank Day – recognised annually on the first Friday of September that acknowledges the work of foodbanks and their volunteers.

Stoke-on-Trent station has a dedicated donation point – providing a prominent place in the city for the community to donate food items to help those in need.    

The foodbank, which has 15 distribution centres covering the whole of Stoke-on-Trent, has been helping people in the area since May 2012. They provide nutritionally balanced emergency food supplies which last for three days and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.

“Our previous drop off point for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank was very popular with customers and the community who kindly made donations, which were collected by volunteers,” Zeb explained. “At Avanti West Coast we’re aware there’s still a need for this vital service and want to help as many people as possible to offer their support, which is why we’ve reintroduced a drop off. ”    

Anyone who wishes to donate items of food can do so in the boxes provided or speak to a member of the Avanti West Coast team at the station.

The intercity operator has also rolled out donation points at its offices in Birmingham and London to encourage donations for local services, which provide emergency food parcels to those in need.

Joanna Buckley, Avanti West Coast Community Manager, said: “We want to make a difference in the communities we serve, so we’re proud to have joined up with foodbanks across our route to support their vital work with donation points at our stations and offices.

“By making it easier for our customers and the community to do their bit to help others, we hope to keep foodbanks stocked up so they can provide for those in need.”

Corrine Boden MBE, Director of Services at Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank, said: “We have seen a significant increase in the cost of food and provisions. Food is an expensive commodity. We value and appreciate every single donation, whether it is a single item or multiple items, we know it is making a difference to those in food crisis.

“On behalf of all our volunteers, staff, Trustees and our guests, we would like to thank Avanti West Coast, their customers and staff for generously supporting the Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank. It is greatly appreciated.”

ENDS