Christmas miracle as generous dentists replace stolen foodbank funds

Dr Khalid Mushtaq, of Littleborough Dental Practice, and his colleague Dr Nazia Uddin

Generous dentists from Littleborough have donated £250 to the Heywood Foodbank – to replace emergency funds stolen from the cause earlier this month.

The sum of £250 was take from the St Vincent de Paul cash box in the presbytery at Our Lady’s and St Joseph’s in Heywood. St Vincent de Paul runs the Heywood foodbank and uses this money to give emergency funds to families in need, providing essentials such as gas or electric vouchers.
 

Read more: Emergency cash for Heywood foodbank stolenPublished: 23 December 2020

One of the foodbank volunteers described the theft as 'extremely upsetting'.

However, a donation made by staff from Littleborough Dental Practice has shown that Christmas miracles can – and do – happen.

After reading about the theft on Rochdale Online, Dr Khalid Mushtaq, of Littleborough Dental Practice, and his colleague Dr Nazia Uddin, agreed to donate the same amount to replace the stolen cash.

Dr Mushtaq told Rochdale Online: “I was born and grew up in Rochdale. I love everything about Rochdale. We have had a lot of bad press over the years nationally which is unfortunate as Rochdale has great positives which then get forgotten. There’s a lot of inequality in and around Rochdale.

“Reading about money being stolen from a local charity on Rochdale Online hurt me tremendously, especially at this festive time of Christmas where everyone should be doing a little more to help the unfortunate. I spoke to my friend and colleague Dr Nazia Uddin, suggesting making good the loss. Without hesitation, she agreed.”

The money was donated via JustGiving on Christmas Eve.

Volunteer Liam Killough thanked the duo, saying the gesture was 'wonderful'.