Christmas food appeal for Rotherham’s needy under way

Volunteers packing food parcels for last year’s appeal

Rotherham’s Food for People in Crisis (FiC) Partnership is asking Rotherham residents and businesses to help where they can by donating food and toiletries at various public donation points throughout the borough,.

You can also make a cash donation to the appeal.

Shafiq Hussain, deputy chief executive at Voluntary Action Rotherham (VAR) and chair of the FiC Partnership said: “Christmas is a time for giving and we know that Rotherham people are generous and caring about others less fortunate than themselves.

“The partnership raised over £3,000 last year and every penny is spent on supporting people in crisis in our community.

“These kind gestures make a real difference to the lives of those most in need.”

Andrea Cox from VAR said : “It's a sad reflection of this reality that every day in Rotherham there are people struggling to find the money to buy food.

“It's not only unemployed or homeless people who find themselves in this terrible situation — older people and more working families are finding it increasingly difficult to pay all the bills and still have enough money to put food on the table.

“Insecure or seasonal work, an unexpected expense, illness, or just a change in benefits or circumstances can often tip people into crisis.”

The Advertiser will once again have a drop-off box for you to leave donations, which you can find at our new office at 27 Howard Street in the town centre.

Other drop-off points are at Aston, Dinnington, Maltby, Rawmarsh, Swinton and Wickersley Library and Customer Service Centres; Aston Park Fire Station; Dearne, Maltby and Rotherham Fire Stations; Riverside House; Rotherham Town Hall; The Lifewise Centre in Hellaby; Voluntary Action Rotherham at Coke Hill, Rotherham, Wath Community Library.

To request a donation box to collect donations at your workplace or event, call Andrea Cox on 01709 829821 or email [email protected] Donation boxes will be collected and emptied on Monday, December 4.

To make a monetary donation, send a cheque to People in Need (VAR)' and sent to Voluntary Action Rotherham, The Spectrum, Coke Hill, Rotherham, S60 2HX or make a bank transfer to “People in Need (VAR)” using sort code 60-83-01 and account number 20298847.