Forging Forces For Vital Norwich Foodbank

Lotus Cars and Waitrose Supermarkets collaborate across the local region in support of the Norwich Foodbank

Sports car manufacturer Lotus brought a touch of glamour to the Waitrose Wymondham branch today displaying the head-turning Exige S Roadster which, thanks to the public, was filled to the brim with Waitrose goodies as part of donations received for the Norwich Foodbank. The Norfolk based car manufacturer has been working with Waitrose stores across the region in a fund raising initiative to support Norwich Foodbank and was today illustrating just how forging company alliances can benefit the locality. The Foodbank helps local people who through a crisis such as unemployment, bereavement, or illness find they are unable to provide for themselves or their families.

As part of Lotus’ commitment to the community, Lotus Driving Academy Hot Lap experiences were donated to the supermarket to raffle to its staff across the Wymondham, Eaton, and North Walsham stores with funds raised donated in vouchers to the charity.

Shoppers visiting the Wymondham branch were encouraged to get involved by donating non-perishable foods from their weekly shop with members of the local Rotary Club on hand to collect these donations in the store’s foyer.

Lotus and Waitrose were delighted to be able to present grocery vouchers to the value of £1400 for the local based charity together with a total of 1.233 tonnes of food. It is estimated this will assist some 500 local people and their families.

Fran Young, Community Specialist, Waitrose “Waitrose is actively committed to supporting the local community. This was a particularly enjoyable project to commit to as it not only met our community objectives but engaged our staff and gave us the opportunity to work with our local neighbour, Lotus. We would like to thank everybody involved including the Wymondham Rotary Club and our customers for their support.”

Aslam Farikullah, COO, Lotus Cars “Lotus is delighted to be able to extend a helping hand to such a vital community project as the Foodbank. As a significant employer in the region we feel passionately regarding our support for this local charity. Increasingly, in a tough economy people find they have fallen on hard times and it’s good to know we can go some way to alleviate the worries that this brings to a family by providing weekly shopping staples that goes some way to keeping the household budget afloat.”

Grant Habershon Project Manager, Norwich Foodbank “Support such as this is such a gift for us, we are a small charity that relies on the goodwill of the community and are so grateful to both Waitrose and Lotus for their collaboration. Families across Norwich and Norfolk will benefit from the money raised here today and on their behalf we would like to thank everyone involved.”

The Foodbank welcomes all donations of non-perishable items from the public, for collection sites please see www.norwichfoodbank.co.uk or can call 01603 251733