Legion feeds into homeless project with tasty donation
13 September 2011
A donation from The Royal British Legion has proved a recipe for success among residents at a homeless centre for ex-Forces personnel.
The £3,000 donation by the Legion's Durham City and Framwellgate Moor Branch has enabled St Peter's Court in Sacriston to register and receive eatables from The Cyrenians Fareshare Northeast, an initiative which redistributes surplus food and drink to charities. The donation has also funded a large fridge and freezer to store perishable goods received from the project.
The Legion's donation will now mean residents coming into St Peter's Court, a project run by SHAID (Single Homeless Action Initiative in Derwentside) for former Armed Forces personnel, will receive a welcome pack of food on arrival and provide ingredients to encourage residents at the 16-apartment complex to cook together in groups.
Mike Donne is a volunteer from The Royal British Legion's Durham City and Framwellgate Branch. He said: "I live nearby and noticed very quickly that the vast majority of people coming into St Peter's Court have nothing when they arrive and have no money for food. Our branch was in a position where we could assist with welfare which is the root and marrow of what the Legion is all about.
"St Peter's gave us the opportunity to get involved in the very community our branch is within. It's good that people from the local area who give to The Royal British Legion can see exactly where some of their money is going and that it is helping people locally."
Tony Hammond, project manager for St Peter's Court said: "The ex-Service personnel of St Peter's Court would like to express their gratitude to The Royal British Legion for providing the funding to enable tenants to access vital service in these difficult times."
Andrew Drake, manager of The Royal British Legion in the North East said: "This tremendous donation by Durham City and Framwellgate Moor Branch demonstrates the front line work of The Royal British Legion and is an example of what goes on 365 days a year in the charity. The Legion spends more than £200,000 a day or £1.4 million a week delivering its vital welfare work and is the UK's leading Service charity helping Service personnel past and present and their families."
For more information contact:
Claire Thorburn, PR Consultant - Northeast, The Royal British
Legion
T: 01668 214 863 M: 07980 284 061 E: cthorburn@britishlegion.org.uk
