After an inspirational meeting last week, we are extremely excited to announce that The Welcome Centre, a vital foodbank based in Huddersfield, is our chosen Charity of the Year for 2018/19.
Founded in April 1997, The Welcome Centre is one of the largest food banks in the Kirklees region with a team of over 100 volunteers, and offers crucial and much-needed aid to the less fortunate.
The Sheards team will be running our popular fundraising events including our annual Quiz Night (details will be announced soon), and we will also be helping out with the Centre’s volunteers, especially during Harvest and Christmas – the toughest time of the year for the impoverished.
The Welcome Centre gives out around 200 packs per week, and they cite this astronomical increase as the result of the recession, local economic factors, and general increase in poverty in our local community.
Over the next year we hope to raise funds to support The Welcome Centre as they receive no guaranteed core funding and rely on the support of local businesses, donors, fund raising events and grant applications to run their fantastic service.
Because The Welcome Centre can’t simply rely on food donations, the money we raise over the next year will help to support them with their outgoings, as well go towards essential items for packs such as milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, tinned meat and fish.
Emma Greenough from the The Welcome Centre “2018 has already been a challenging year for our charity. Demand has increased significantly due to changes in the welfare system, along with an increase in families needing our service. We were delighted to hear that Sheards have chosen us as their charity of the and look forward to some great events and volunteering together.”
We are delighted to be partnering with The Welcome Centre for the forthcoming year and we will keep you all updated with details of our upcoming, much-loved fundraising events!