A WORCESTER childhood cancer care charity has become one of the first in the country to benefit from a £500 Tesco grant, part of the retailer’s £30million package of support for local communities hit by the lockdown.
Earlier this month, Tesco’s CEO Dave Lewis outlined the retailer’s plans to provide more than £52m to local communities following the Covid 19 outbreak, continuing to give extra food and funding for FareShare, the Trussell Trust, donations of food for Salute the NHS, support for the British Red Cross and National Emergencies Trust, and a Bags of Help COVID-19 Community Fund, to support as many groups as possible with grants of £500.
Making full use of the grant, the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, has put the extra funding towards providing care parcels for families in need, who are unable to leave the house to shop due to the risk to their child who is suffering from cancer and is therefore more vulnerable.
Michelle Nolan, a spokesperson for the charity said: “Since lockdown, our income has dropped due to restrictions on our ability to fundraise – but the demand for our help has increased markedly.
“Currently we are providing groceries to families around Worcestershire that have been self-isolating for longer than the rest of the population.
“The most vulnerable among them are not even able to shop due to the added risk for their already unwell child. Some families are now down to their last supplies of food, toiletries and cleaning products.
“There are currently 25 families in the area who each need a minimum of six care parcels for the isolation period, which each contain enough supplies for two weeks.
“We don’t want to have to turn anyone away so the grant from Tesco has been a lifeline for us and the families we are supporting.”
Any local groups that would benefit from this funding are encouraged to apply here. The process is managed through our partner charity Groundwork’s website. www.tescobagsofhelp.org.uk
Keith Jackson, Local Communications Manager for the Midlands, said: “We’re doing everything we can to provide food for all at this difficult time and hopefully the £500 Bags of Help grant will help those groups still committed to helping others during this uncertain time.”
Through distribution partners, FareShare and Groundwork, local groups across the country are dedicated to ensuring that the most vulnerable within our communities are supplied with essentials even if they cannot leave home.
