British Steel employees across the UK have donated hundreds of items to their local foodbanks.
In the run up to Christmas, teams at our company’s plants, metal centres and sales offices have been busily donating food.
British Steel was sent a ‘shopping list’ of items including UHT milk, tinned goods and cereal and workers at nine locations chipped in.
Dave Allan, Business Manager for British Steel’s Dundee Metal Centre, said: “We’ve only got a small number of people here but we got a good few boxes of food; we were all happy to contribute.
“Dundee has six foodbank depots currently feeding over 200 people per week so everything donated was appreciated.”
Stewart Maxwell, Commercial Manager for our Edinburgh Sales Office, said: "In this modern day it’s concerning that we have a proportion of society that, without the support of foodbanks, could effectively go hungry over Christmas.
“Hopefully the British Steel national collection campaign will help to make a difference."
And Mark Noteyoung, Mill Technologist at our Skinningrove site, said: "It is at times such as Christmas that we realise how lucky most of us are.
“Sadly there are families that need our help and support, especially over the festive period. We are more than happy to contribute to the wellbeing of our community.”
It was on November 24 that our employees started filling donation boxes for their nearest foodbanks.
The food is now in the process of being delivered and one of the recipients has been Scunthorpe foodbank, which is run by the town’s Baptist Church.
One of the helpers, Helen Armstrong, said: “Scunthorpe Foodbank was overwhelmed by the amazing donations collected from British Steel.
“Those of us who have plenty on our tables, not just at Christmas but all year round, cannot imagine the impact that foodbanks have for those in need.
“We’d like to say a very big thank you to all who donated. We serve over 3,000 people with food every year, and this contribution will make a real difference to many lives.”
Foodbanks have been set up across the country to help people suffering financial hardship. Between April 2015 and April 2016, more than one million emergency three-day food parcels were handed out to people in crisis.
British Steel Community Liaison Manager Rebecca Slater said: “I’m so proud of everyone’s generosity.
“Having our employees at nine locations giving so much food has enabled us to support the communities in which we operate.
“Foodbanks are a very worthy cause and I’d like to thank everyone who has given to the campaign this year.”
The foodbank collections come a short time after British Steel launched its Building Stronger Communities strategy. It will see the company donate money to support local organisations and employees raise money and give their time to support charities.
Earlier this month, Lindsey Lodge Hospice was chosen as British Steel’s official community partner by its employees in Scunthorpe.
British Steel sites and locations that took part in foodbank collections included:
Pictured are members of our team at Dundee Metal Centre with some of the food they collected.