Sewell on the go team up with Hull KR to support community foodbanks
Sewell on the go and Hull Kingston Rovers would like to thank fans who have donated items for East Hull and Beannie Street Foodbanks across matchdays this season.
Their generous donations raised over £1,000 across just four games, with Sewell on the go and Hull KR both match funding to take the total up to £3,000.
Foodbank founder, Robbie Keane, said:
“To have wonderful people involved like Sewell on the go and Hull Kingston Rovers can only suggest the kindness that is out there and how, as human beings, we care for our community.
“Every little helps. It might mean very little to someone to donate a tin of soup, however, this could effectively be someone’s only meal of the day. We receive very concerning phone calls and emails, as well as daily texts which truly open my eyes to the state of poverty that surrounds us all.”
Ran by Robbie and 23 volunteers, East Hull/Beannie Street Foodbanks is open 6 days a week providing pop-ups on Hopewell Road, New George Street and Bean Street.
In 2020 alone, the East Hull Foodbank and Beannie Street Foodbank donated over 182,000 tonnes of food to those in need. That’s the equivalent to over 10,000 double-decker buses!
Patrick Sewell, Sewell on the go MD said;
“It has been great to partner up with Hull KR and East Hull/Beannie Street Foodbanks once again, working together to promote such an important cause to an even wider audience.
“Supporters could donate £1, £3 or £4 and receive pre-packed donation bags filled with what the foodbank currently needed. We had a huge increase in take-up on the donation bags this year, showing the importance of charities like these and we’d like to thank everyone who donated.”
Following this success, Hull KR will join Sewell on the go to support its annual Big Local Harvest campaign from Monday 20 September – Sunday 17 October, after recognising how essential food banks are, particularly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Liz Winn, Head of Education and Business Development at Hull KR said: “Working with the Community is so important to us as a Club, we pride ourselves on it. It is important that we all work together to support everyone in the best way we can. Thank you to the fans and local community for their generosity especially through such a challenging time. We have enjoyed collaborating with Sewell On The Go for this project and look forward to working together again in the future.”
Last year, more than £1,200 worth of items were donated including; more than 300 tinned items, over 200 bags of pasta, dozens more bags of rice, hundreds of toilet rolls, cereals, nappies, toiletries, tea bags, flour, sugar, tea, coffee, long-life milk, condiments, noodles, crisps and more.
Robbie added;
“The donations from the Big Local Harvest last year helped more than 250 families, some of whom hadn’t had food for two weeks.
“I find myself lucky that I don’t have to use foodbanks, but for those who do, it is so vital, and these food parcels make such a difference to the families.
“Sewell on the go and its customers have done so much to support us and without them, those families would have to go without food.
“I have no doubt that this year’s Harvest will be just as successful, and I’m truly humbled to be working with Sewell on the go and Hull KR once again.”
Sewell on the go encourages customers and staff to buy an extra non-perishable item whilst shopping and place it in the donation basket at any of Sewell on the go stores across Hull and the East Riding, apart from Wyton.
During 2020, Sewell on the go supported more than 60 charitable and community causes including Hull 4 Heroes, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Hull Animal Welfare Trust, Pocklington People’s Pantry and The Sailors’ Children’s Society.