Southern Water’s life-changing foodbank collection campaign is back for a second year – with the aim of reaching even more families in need across the region.
Last year, customers helped gather an incredible 4.6 tonnes of tins, including almost a tonne donated by Southern Water employees, ranging from vegetables to soup, puddings to fruit, and fish to meat.
The company also supported 2022’s donations by awarding an extra £12,000 so local foodbanks could continue supporting their work.
The 2023 campaign is launching this week and will run until 11 August and is partnered with a variety of local community radio stations, including V2 Radio, KMFM, Fiesta 95 FM and Awaaz FM, as well as logistics and foodbank partner charity UKHarvest who will help share the donations with more than 50 foodbanks, homelessness charities and refuges across Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire.
Scores of donation points, in branded crates, have been set up in supermarkets, libraries and community centres across the region, while members of the public can also donate via campaign partners.
Community groups can create their own donation points thanks to free supporter packs.
Alex Willumsen, Southern Water’s Community Partnerships and Programmes Lead, said: “The support our customers and communities gave this campaign last year when we ran it for the first time was amazing – and we are so excited to push even harder this year to go further and support more families.
“We recognise that many of our customers are struggling in the current cost of living crisis, and we are keen to work with our communities and partners to support our region’s foodbanks – particularly as families near this summer’s school holidays.
“It is such an easy campaign to support – by contributing as much as you feel able to, collectively we can make a huge difference.”
Sarah Morison, Partnerships lead at UKHarvest, added: “As a Food Rescue charity working across the South of England, UKHarvest supports those in food insecurity and this campaign is a great way of getting everyone in the community involved. UKHarvest are glad to provide logistics support for ‘Tonnes of Tins’ in West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.”
You can find your nearest donation point online.
Donors in Kent can also place their tins order online with KMFM and they will be delivered to the radio station for collection. Meanwhile, community groups wishing to set up their own donation point can claim a supporters’ pack by emailing community@southernwater.co.uk