Greater Anglia stations in Bishop’s Stortford, Stansted and Sawbridgeworth launch appeal for food banks
Staff at railway stations in the Bishop’s Stortford and Harlow area have launched an appeal to help families in food crisis this winter.
Donation points opened at Stansted Mountfitchet, Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Harlow Mill and Harlow Town stations on Monday (October 28) for seven weeks, closing on Sunday December 15.
Donated goods will be collected and sent to Stortford, Harlow and Sawbridgeworth food banks.
The items most required are tins of fish, meat and vegetables.
Other required items include sponge pudding, crisps, juice, squash and chocolate along with cereal, soup, pasta, rice and sweet treats such as biscuits. Tea bags, coffee and long-life UHT milk can also be dropped off.
Pet food can be handed over at Stansted Mountfitchet station only, with everything going to a local animal shelter.
Michael King, a relief ticket office clerk at Sawbridgeworth and Stansted Mountfitchet stations and organiser of the event, is also working on a staff raffle to add to the donations.
Customers gave more than 1,600 meals’ worth of food to the scheme in 2023. Much-needed extra items brought the final weight of donations to 684kg (107.7st).
Mr King said: “The food banks across our area are incredible and make such a difference to those that need them in the towns we serve.
“It’s always amazing to see how much generosity our customers and staff have in making this such a success. I was staggered to see how much we donated last year, and I can’t wait to see how we do in 2024.”
The initiative has been running since 2022, when customers and staff donated around 1,000 meals and 500kg worth of food, toiletries, hot water bottles and blankets to food banks just before Christmas.