Despite another challenging year, the ISO QSL Bingo Box campaign has proved to be a huge success once again thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses.
Worcester based ISO providers, ISO Quality Services, have been supporting Worcester Foodbank for a number of years now. Their Bingo Box campaign aims to help relieve some of the pressure that they, and other Foodbanks face, by asking individuals and businesses to complete a bingo sheet of essential items and donate them to their local foodbank. Alternatively, cash donations could be made to ISO QSL to support the Worcester Foodbank.
Once again, despite the pressure we have all been feeling these past couple of years, the campaign received an amazing response, smashing last year’s record of 50 boxes.
Managing Director, Jennifer Appleton comments: “This year, around 30 participants took part, donating approximately 45 physical boxes as well as £500 in cash donations. At roughly £25 per box, this brings our overall total to just over 60 Bingo Boxes, which is truly amazing.
Knowing the extra pressure foodbanks are facing this year, we had hoped to set a new record which we achieved thanks to the amazing support of our clients and contacts. A huge thank you to everyone who took part in helping us feed more families this Christmas, without your support, that wouldn’t be possible”.
Ruth from Worcester Foodbank adds: “’We are so grateful that ISO Quality Services has chosen to support us again this year through their Bingo Box campaign. We love how they bring together lots of local businesses to help the local community and spread the word about our mission and the work we do in the process.
The volunteers are always overwhelmed by the response and seeing the creatively decorated boxes brings a smile to our faces. This is looking to be our busiest Christmas ever and we just couldn’t do this without the support of local businesses like ISO QSL and their partners”.
Over the past five years, the need for foodbanks in the Trussell Trust’s UK network has increased by a whopping 128%, with the main drivers being problems in the benefits system, challenging life experiences and lack of support. With Universal Credit claimants seeing their payments reduced by £20 a week, rising energy costs and the end of the furlough scheme, unprecedented pressure on Foodbanks is to be expected over the coming months.
Last year, the Foodbanks distributed a record breaking 2.5 million emergency food parcels to people in crisis, a 33% increase on the previous year. Nearly 1 million of these went to children.
If you missed out on completing a Bingo Box but still want to support this great cause, Worcester Foodbank are running their own Christmas Appeal to ensure that no child wakes up to an empty stocking on Christmas Day. You can find out more and donate here: https://worcesterfoodbank.enthuse.com/cf/worcester-foodbank-christmas-appeal
