Soldiers from the Welfare team of 27 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps organised a food, toy and clothing drive in order to aid those affected during the current pandemic.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has certainly taken its toll on many people. Aware of the difficult times and wanting to do something that could benefit those locally in need, the Welfare team at 27 Regiment organised a ‘Food Drive’ event which took place between 15 June and 31 July 20, in and around Travers barracks and the Connaught Community Centre.
Sergeant Mark Gill from the 27 Regiment Welfare department who helped orchestrate the event said, “We had such a positive response that at times, the collection points had to be emptied daily; the support was truly amazing.”
Donations were being collected for three causes; Farnborough Foodbank, which provides emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis, a local community centre and Sir Mike Jackson House, a charity that provides accommodation and support for homeless veterans from the Armed Forces.
On Tuesday 15 September, members from the Welfare team were able to deliver the food donations to the local Farnborough Foodbank drop-off point situated at the old Browning Barracks depot in Aldershot.
Colin Williams, Project Manager of the Farnborough Foodbank, was very grateful for the donations, commenting, “Receiving this from 27 Regiment allows us to continue feeding those who are described as being in food poverty, i.e. the inability to afford food in a time of crisis. Crisis can be caused by many things such as sickness, loss of earnings, or even a death in the family and we don’t judge, we are just there to serve those in need.”
Whilst the food donations were set aside for the local Farnborough Foodbank and the toiletries and books given to The Sir Mike Jackson House, there were enough donations that the team were also able to help their own Army families and so the toys and clothes have been kept within the Welfare Centre for all to access when needed most.
Extremely proud of the Unit’s achievement, Sergeant Gill added, “We’ve been thrilled to come down to the foodbank depot and pass on food that our soldiers and families from the Regiment have donated. Our Unit Welfare Officer knew of the foodbank and obviously, with the COVID pandemic, supporting our local community is more important to us than ever so we came up with the idea of a food and toy drive; we think it’s great for us to give something back to the community that have supported us through the years and we hope to do it again before Christmas.”
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