For the last six years, Listers Group has been supporting Stratford Foodbank by setting up collection points in four of its dealerships in Western Road, and its Head Office, encouraging staff and visitors to donate food items.
Stratford Foodbank is a local charity that provides emergency food items to those who need support during times of crisis. This year has been a particularly tough one, not only for the Foodbank who have completely re-designed their operation to meet the challenges of COVID-19, but to support a 50% increase in the need for emergency food aid.
Lesley Franklin, who is a Listers staff member, spearheads the operation each year, she said, "I must admit to being slightly hesitant to contact the dealerships this year as it has been tough for us all, but true to form they were in full agreement that it was more relevant this year than ever before."
The team have been encouraged to put together some festive food hampers with the aim of giving families something special for Christmas day. These include a range of different items such as sweets, mince pies, some Christmas cake, Christmas crackers and other festive donations.
On Wednesday 9th December, Lesley Franklin and some of the Listers team went to the dealerships and she commented on the expansion of the fundraising efforts, "It was started many Christmas's ago by me, A couple of years later I decided to extend the invitation to our Western Road dealerships to see if they would like to get involved, they have been on board ever since."