United Utilities donates 600,000 meals and a new refrigerated vehicle to FareShare

Water company United Utilities is helping FareShare tackle soaring demand for its services in the face of a new national coronavirus lockdown and beyond.

As well as providing funding which will enable FareShare to distribute an additional 600,000 meals, the firm is providing a new refrigerated vehicle to help deliver an estimated 6.4 million meals around Greater Manchester over the next eight years.

FareShare is the nation’s largest food redistributor, with more than 30 warehouses across the UK. The charity diverts surplus food within the food industry – which would otherwise go to waste – to vulnerable people who might not otherwise eat, via a network of 11,000 frontline charities and community groups across the UK. Projects receiving food include homeless hostels, school breakfast clubs, domestic violence refuges, food banks and hospices.

As provider of essential water and sewerage services to seven million people across the North West, United Utilities is no stranger to supporting people in hardship. It offers the most extensive range of assistance schemes of any water company in the UK, from special tariffs through to grants and payment breaks.

The company’s CEO Steve Mogford said:

“We are supporting FareShare at this important moment, as many people worry about the impact of a second national lockdown and the current situation and financial challenges are leading many more people to rely on the support of charities and foodbanks. We want to do more to help families in the region and we have made a donation which will provide for 600,000 meals for families this year. In addition, our contribution will pay for a new refrigerated vehicle which will deliver an estimated 6.4 million meals over the next 8 years.

“This is one of a number of steps we have taken to support North West communities during these unprecedented times, especially when so many people are concerned about their finances. Whether that is help paying a water bill, support from our Priority Services scheme, delivering essential services or helping suppliers by accelerating our payments to them, we are proud to be helping North West communities where we can.”

Miranda Kaunang, Head of Development at FareShare Greater Manchester, said: “The outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK presented a challenge like nothing FareShare had ever seen. Demand for our service has skyrocketed since lockdown measures were introduced, with many people placed into hardship and struggling to access food. As well as helping to feed the thousands of people we are supporting in the North West right now, by donating the new vehicle United Utilities’ gift will be a lasting legacy for many more people in the coming years.”

Related posts

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.