Businesses and organisations who are supporters of Families in Need (FIND) were invited to a breakfast event hosted by The Mayor of Ipswich Councillor Sarah Barber on 22 March for the public launch of the £100,000 FIND 50 Lifeline Appeal following planning approval. FIND is one of The Mayor’s three charities during her term in office.
FIND requires a new home for its food bank and the new appeal aims to recruit 50 businesses, individuals, schools and other organisations who will each pledge to raise £2,000 towards the £100,000 needed for FIND’s new foodbank in Ipswich.
East of England Co-op, Ipswich Building Society, Ipswich East Rotary Club, Ipswich Round Table, Ipswich School, Kingsfleet Wealth, PLC Business and Genesis PR are the first companies to become FIND 50 fundraisers.
In addition, local engineering and construction firms and other companies have committed to give their services either free or at cost, including Barnes Construction, quantity surveyors Castons, Hoopers Architects, MLM, JSH Consulting, Kadec and law firm Barker Gotelee.
Maureen Reynel MBE, founder and Board Chair of FIND, said: “We are hugely grateful for the support we already have from the Suffolk community; without it there would be no FIND.
“With the help of Ipswich Borough Council, we have now identified a site for our new food bank but we urgently need to raise at least £100,000 to convert it into suitable premises and secure a future for FIND for years to come.
“This really is a lifeline appeal so that we can continue to help the many individuals and families across Suffolk each year who desperately need our support.”
Penny Arbuthnot, director at Genesis PR, which is giving its services free as well as fundraising, added: “We are calling on all sectors of the local community to get behind FIND and help turn the £100,000 target into a reality. Many children and adults in our community would simply go hungry without FIND’s vital support week in week out with basic food and essential items. By working together, we can help ensure FIND flourishes as a charity for years to come.”
FIND was established nearly 30 years ago by Maureen Reynel MBE in response to the growing need for food parcels for people in poverty and crisis. Demand has risen year on year and the charity, manned by over 100 local volunteers, now provides over 70 food parcels per week (over 5,000 each year) along with personal care items, bedding, furniture and other items where a person or family has none.
To sign up to become a FIND 50 member and take part in fundraising and publicity, please email FIND50@genesispr.co.uk.
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.