FareShare, the south west’s Coronavirus emergency response effort, has been given a £10,000 donation from ALD Automotive. 

The funding will help deliver 40,000 meals for people in need across the region

The funding will help deliver 40,000 meals for people in need across the region, at a time when FareShare has expanded rapidly in order to meet the increased demand for food support. The donation will assist with the implementation of new processes, logistics solutions and new food sourcing to ensure food gets to priority projects quickly.

ALD has also offered the food charity the use of five VW Transporters which will be used to distribute essential food boxes across Bristol and the South West.

Julian Mines, CEO of FareShare South West, said: “We are hugely grateful for this timely donation from ALD Automotive, particularly as right now our operations are moving fast and funds are needed urgently to avoid anyone going unnecessarily hungry.  We have set up a temporary food storage area at Ashton Gate Football Stadium to cope with the additional food throughput. The funds donated by ALD will go towards the rising additional costs, such as chiller van hire costs, additional fuel, delivery, logistics and maintenance costs, specialist cleaning, warehouse equipment such as pump trucks/forklift hire and volunteer expenses.”

Tim Laver, ALD’s managing director, commented: “We know that food donation charities  have been hit really hard. Not only are fewer people able to donate, but now more families than ever need their help. This is why we decided to support FareShare South West, who have told us that our £10,000 donation will provide a huge boost to their efforts during this particularly challenging time. The additional provision of vehicles will help get the food to where it is so desperately needed.”

ALD’s support work during the pandemic has also seen it team up with the Karshare free community car scheme to provide 33 vehicles for free use by workers from the North Bristol NHS Trust and the University Hospitals charities. It’s also donated £40,000 to the North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals charities.