Epsom and Ewell Foodbank appeal launched

Nescot’s Hair and Beauty department has launched its fourth annual fundraising drive to support vulnerable people in crisis this Christmas.

This year the team has chosen Epsom and Ewell Foodbank, which helps make sure families in the area have enough to eat, as well as access to basic hygiene products.

Students, staff and visitors are being asked to bring in non-perishable food items to room E129, or to the main college reception, before Wednesday December 12.

Lisa Charles, Curriculum and Standards Coordinator for Hair and Beauty, is running the appeal and urged people to support it.

“Anyone can end up in crisis for all sorts of reasons, and Christmas is an imaginably difficult time to be struggling to feed your family,” she said.

“Every donation of any size is welcome, and will help support vulnerable people in our community this Christmas.”

Lisa has organised charity Christmas appeals for the past four consecutive years, alternating between collecting items for the foodbank and shoeboxes of gifts for homeless young people via Centrepoint.

Frances Rutter, Nescot’s CEO and Principal, praised Lisa’s hard work in organising the appeals, and encouraged people to donate.

She added: “We’re glad to be supporting a local charity, which does so much great work to support our whole community.”

Epsom and Ewell Foodbank opened in 2012, and in the last 12 months staff have given out 2,663 allocations of emergency three-day supplies. Last year the team fed more than 300 people over Christmas.

More than 90% of the items distributed by foodbanks in the Trussell Trust are donated by members of the public. A typical parcel includes items such as cereal, pasta, rice and tinned meat, vegetables and fruit.

Epsom and Ewell Foodbank is currently in particular need of items including milk powder, men’s deodorant and shower gel.