Foodbank welcomes Santa’s little helpers

Photo: Stuart Watson

Stuart Watson, Foodbank Warehouse Manager (in the yellow hi-viz jacket), from BT: Julie Etheridge; Charlie Etheridge; Tania Caporaso (in the red jacket); Thomas Butler; Rachel Hancock; Rob Hewitt; Erika Hewitt and Deborah Anderson

Volunteers at Rochdale Foodbank had an early Christmas present with the arrival of a group of enthusiastic and energetic helpers.

The group consisted of two employees from Barclays Bank and eight employees of British Telecom (BT). This latter group had gathered from all across the UK, with BT managers of sales and retention coming from as far away as Somerset, Glasgow and Newcastle.

They had all committed to spending the day helping out at the foodbank.

Stuart Watson, Warehouse Manager for Rochdale Foodbank, set them to work sorting out and dating the donations of food received in the last two weeks, from a collection at Tesco Superstore to well over a tonne of food collected by Rochdale Round Table, plus schools and regular donations.

Stuart commented: “We were thrilled to have such an energetic and keen group of people who were willing to get stuck in and sort out our food stocks, they have been a great help.”

Tania Caporaso, the BT team leader, said: “We are full of admiration. It was our pleasure to be part of it all. We loved it.”