Around 200 volunteers recorded over 1,000 volunteering hours, in what is the Stop Hunger Foundation’s 20th anniversary year. Sodexo’s volunteering policy enables its employees to take three paid volunteering days each year supporting those who are most in need.
Trussell arranged sessions for Sodexo’s colleagues, clients and supply partners at food banks across the country in Belfast, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol and London.
Sodexo colleagues and 19 supply chain partners took part in a procurement hackathon offering guidance to Trussell on how it can maximise its supply chain and encourage donations of food parcels.
Stop Hunger volunteer sessions were also held with Abernecessities in Scotland, The Bread and Butter Thing in Manchester and Co-Farm community farm in Cambridge. At Co-Farm Stop Hunger patron Asma Khan joined a group of 30 volunteers.
Patrick Forbes, chair of Stop Hunger Foundation UK & Ireland, said: “As we look back on an amazing week, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to every colleague and partner who spent time volunteering with our charity partners last week whether that was supporting at food banks or lending a hand behind the scenes.
“It is their efforts, whether supporting food banks or lending a hand behind the scenes, which make a real difference. Personally, I was proud to kick off Volunteers’ Week at Co-Farm in Cambridge where I joined colleagues, supply partners and Stop Hunger patron Asma Khan.
“We had a great day helping with gardening tasks from planting and harvesting crops, watering, weeding and trimming and preparing produce which is donated to eight community food hubs to support families in the Cambridge area.”
Since it was founded in 2005 the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has supported more than 9.6 million beneficiaries through 230 charity partners across over 56 cities and regions, distributing more than £6.4 million in grants.