McCarthy & Stone, the company building retirement homes by Cobden Bridge, has donated £250 raised by its sales team over the Christmas period to the Bitterne Park food bank.

 

The housebuilder says Southampton City Mission has been running food banks in Southampton for 22 years; 2017 was their busiest year ever as they saw an increase in demand by 20% due to benefit cuts.

David Osborne from City Mission, with McCarthy & Stone's Laura Currie (left) & Katrina Andrews

Last year Southampton City Mission served food 9,985 times and gave away clothing 1,257 times across seven local food banks – known locally as ‘Basics Banks’.

The McCarthy & Stone team raised the Christmas cash attending events and selling festive mulled wine and mince pies in the local area.

'We are completely dependent upon the generosity of local people and of local businesses'

Dave Osborne, Southampton City Mission Basics Bank Manager, said: “All of the food that we are able to give out to those in need, comes to us as donations from the public. We are completely dependent upon the generosity of local people and of local businesses to keep us going, and are incredibly grateful to the likes of McCarthy & Stone for taking the time to fundraise on our behalf, and for their support.”

City Mission operates its Basics Bank from The Old Chemist, Bitterne Park Triangle on Wednesdays. You can donate much needed food and clothing from 10am-3pm, which will be distributed across the network of Basics Banks as required. Tinned food, dry foods like pasta, jars of sauces etc are especially welcomed.

McCarthy & Stone is holding a ‘Discovery Day’ on March 23 from 11am-3pm at the Church of the Ascension, Thorold Road, for people interested in one or two-bedroom apartments at its Boathouse development.

Previously
bitternepark.info video: Behind-the-scenes look at Southampton's food banks 
City’s Clothes Bank moves to Bitterne Park