All 41 Gedling Borough Councillors have agreed to pledge £250 each from their Councillor’s Community Fund to support the council’s Giving for Gedling Food Bank Appeal launch, which is today being launched by the Mayor of Gedling.
The total donation of £10,250 from councillors will be used to purchase food, which will be distributed to the most vulnerable, at risk and elderly who are dealing with the impacts of Coronavirus. The council has set a target of £20,000 to be raised in total.
The cross-party agreement to donate the funds will kick-start the food bank appeal with the Mayor calling on residents to help match the councillors donation and raise an additional £10,000 by donating on the Giving for Gedling Food Bank Appeal website www.spacehive.com/givingforgedling. All of the funds raised will go to local food banks to support them during the coronavirus crisis.
The Mayor of Gedling, Councillor Sandra Barnes, working jointly with local churches and food banks, is asking for people to make cash donations that the food banks can use to purchase much needed food for our most vulnerable residents.
In a joint statement Cllr. John Clarke, Leader of the Council & Labour Group; Cllr. Chris Barnfather, Leader of the Opposition & Conservative Group; Cllr. Andrew Ellwood, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group & Cllr. Pat Bosworth, Leader of the Independent Group said:
“Councillors are keen to do everything we can to support our most vulnerable residents and this donation of £10,250 from all 41 councillors will help ensure food and essential supplies reach the most vulnerable, at risk and elderly residents as we all deal with this unprecedented challenge. We are asking local residents to help if they can by making a financial donation to the Giving for Gedling Food Bank Appeal, this is a way of helping the most vulnerable residents in our community, whilst staying at home and keeping yourself safe too.”
The Mayor of Gedling, Cllr Sandra Barnes said: “In all my years as a Councillor, I have never seen such a time like this, however, I am absolutely sure that we can work together and help our most vulnerable residents. Any contribution, no matter how much, will be welcomed and all the donations will be given to the local food banks that are situated around the borough. So please give what you can and thank you on behalf of everyone at Gedling Borough Council.”
I would have preferred to see the story announcing that each Councillor had donated £250 from their own pocket; that would have been newsworthy. A story saying that they’ve bunged in £250 from a budget isn’t really a big deal, is it?