Red Funnel & Isle of Wight Foodbank announce ‘Can Drive for Cowes Week’ challenge and celebrate £14,000 in donations

Red Funnel and its Charity of the Year, the Isle of Wight Foodbank, have announced a can drive challenge to collect 1,000 cans of food by the end of Cowes Week, on 2nd August. 

Cans can be dropped off at any Isle of Wight foodbank collection bin located inside all of Red Funnel’s four terminals. The Foodbank is most urgently in need of canned fruits and vegetables, though all in-date canned foods are welcome. 

Red Funnel has also provided a mid-year fundraising update to affirm that thanks to the generosity of its customers and colleagues, the company has collected over £14,000 in cash donations since the start of the year.  To help grow the number, the ferry firm has also pledged a donation of 50p from the sale of each of their Captain Ted Funnel and Captain Ruby Funnel teddy bear toys.

Speaking on the mid-year milestone, Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said: “We are proud to do our part to support the amazing work the Isle of Wight Foodbank is doing all over Island, and we’re incredibly thankful to our customers and colleagues for their tremendous generosity. With another five months ahead of us, there’s a lot more we can achieve together, and I’m particularly excited to see where we land with the can drive by the 2nd of August.”

Kay Lewis, Manager of the Isle of Wight Foodbank, said: “We are so grateful to have been selected as Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year and it’s been a delight to work with them. We would like pass on a big thank you to Red Funnel’s staff and customers for all their support, as it goes such a long way in enabling us to keep helping Islanders facing food crisis.”

“At this time, our shelves are in desperate need of a restock of canned fruits and vegetables, so we’re appealing to everyone, both Island residents and visitors who have the capacity to help us out to please pitch in. It may not feel like much, but picking up just that one extra can on your next shop will add up and make a difference. If we band together as a community, there’s no limit to what we can achieve, though for starters we’ll be absolutely thrilled if we can get to 1,000 cans by 2nd Aug!”

To help increase vital cash donations to help them grow their food stock reserves, the foodbank has also been hosting a series of popular clothing sales on the first Saturday of most months. The next event, located at the charity’s headquarters in Cowes will take place on Saturday, 3 August from 10am – 12pm. 
To find out more about the Isle of Wight Foodbank, including how you can help or receive help at any of the charity’s five foodbank ‘cafes’ located in Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Shanklin, and Freshwater, please visit www.isleofwight.foodbank.org.uk

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact [email protected] / 02380 382 970