A food bank in Reading has received a donation of basic food, festive treats and other essentials from housebuilder Vistry Group.
The company, whose Thames Valley region is based in the town, delivered three boxes of much-needed items to ReadiFood, which helps people across the Reading area.
ReadiFood has been running for more than 25 years and delivers emergency food parcels to between 150 and 190 households in severe need every week.
The independent food bank offers support to people who have been referred to the organisation by local agencies.
Alix Laflin, Vistry Thames Valley marketing manager, said: “It is important to us to be part of the community where our customers and colleagues live and to support and give back to that community where we can.
“As a business which is based in Reading, we are keenly aware of the important service that ReadiFood provides to people who find themselves in urgent need of a helping hand.
“It is distressing to think of anyone going hungry at any time of year, but particularly at Christmas when so many of us are lucky enough to be able to celebrate with plenty of festive food. It’s not like that for everyone and ReadiFood is there to step in and prevent people in difficult circumstances going hungry.”
Alison Peyton, Food bank manager at ReadiFood, said: “I’d like to thank Vistry for its kind donation. This will make an important difference to people in urgent need of food in the Reading area.
“Sadly, food banks have become almost essential in today’s society, with the crisis in public funding of services, the cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.
“People are unable to recover when they hit financial issues, with these external pressures on them as well. More and more people need to turn to voluntary services such as ReadiFood to keep feeding themselves and their families.”
For more information about ReadiFood, visit readifood.org.uk.
