A Nottinghamshire funeral firm has handed over a record amount of money to help feed local families after its annual charity appeal proved more popular than ever.
Gillotts Funeral Directors has given a total of £2,500 to five local food banks after raising the money during its Christmas Tree Memorial Appeal, which took place in December.
The donation follows the surprise success of the company’s annual fundraising event, when it erected a 20ft Christmas tree in the grounds of St Lawrence’s Church in Heanor and invited local families to leave message of remembrance on the branches.
More people left messages compared to previous years, when the company installed Christmas trees in each of its offices and invited people to drop in to leave their tribute, with the company donating £1 for each tribute.
Covid-19 restrictions meant that this was not possible this time, forcing the company, in Eastwood, Kimberley, Selston, Stapleford and Heanor, to organise an outdoor event to ensure it appeal could take place.
The company will now hand over £500 each to St Andrew’s Food bank, based at St Andrew’s Church in Langley Mill, Selston Community Food Bank, Haven Church Food Bank, based in Wadsworth Road, Stapleford, Salcare in Heanor and Eastwood Volunteer Bureau’s weekly food bank.
Anthony Topley, a Partner in Gillotts, said the company was very proud to have given more money than in previous years at a time when food banks are facing unprecedented demand.
But he said that nothing had prepared the staff for the interest that the tree created, making the event bigger and better than ever before.
He said: “We attracted more interest and more money than before which is wonderful, bearing in mind the fact that this was very much a Plan B because of Covid.
“Reading some of the labels has been incredibly moving and uplifting and knowing that the tree played such an important role for so many people after such a difficult year makes us all feel very proud, quite apart from the fact that we have helped five local food banks ensure that families living in their community don’t go hungry.”
David Howe, Community Champion for Salcare, in Ray Street, Heanor, added: “We have seen a big increase within our food bank in the last few months due to benefits not paid on time, job losses during the last furlough along with people being made redundant.
“With this in mind, we are very grateful to have received such a generous donation from Gillotts, which will enable us to continue to help families facing ongoing hardships in 2021.”
