PR and digital agency Genesis has presented a cheque to Maureen Reynel MBE, Board Chair of charity Families in NEED, for £300 instead of sending cards this Christmas The agency also raised £100 from a Christmas bake sale on 18 December and is giving its services pro bono to run the FIND 50 appeal to fund a new foodbank in the town. The East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star are backing the appeal, which aims to raise £100,000 during 2018.
Penny Arbuthnot, Director, Genesis, said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed supporting FND this year and will be continuing our pro bono PR and media for the charity throughout 2018. After a successful team entry to the Orwell Walk and all the other activities, the total amount we have either raised or donated to FIND this year totals £1,305.
“We are of course also committed to being a FIND 50 company – which means we’ll be aiming to raise £2,000 in 2018. FIND 50 is about finding 50 local workplaces, schools or groups who can each raise £2,000 so that the £100,000 target for the new foodbank can be met.”
FIND was established nearly thirty years ago by Maureen Reynel and since then the demand for food parcels from people in poverty and crisis has risen year on year. The charity now provides over 70 food parcels per week along with personal care items, bedding, furniture and other items where a person or family has none.
To run the service a small army of over 100 volunteers work six days per week checking and sorting food, collecting items from local stores, making up the food parcels and delivering them. This Christmas the charity is helping over 2,000 people in crisis living in Ipswich and the wider community by giving food parcels and Christmas gifts.
Donations of non-perishable food items and toiletries can be made to any local participating East of England Co-Op, Waitrose at Futura Park and Sainsbury’s at Warren Heath.
Cash can be donated at www.findipswich.org.uk/donate and any businesses, schools and clubs which would like to take part in FIND 50 fundraising and publicity should email FIND50@genesispr.co.uk.
