The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) has donated surplus food to a local food bank in Tewkesbury to support vulnerable people during the COVID-19 lockdown.
With the railway closed due to the Coronavirus lockdown, some of the stock the line had purchased for the 2020 season is no longer needed.
To ensure the food is used and not wasted, the GWSR has donated the food, valued at £1,000, to both the Tewkesbury food bank and the Tewkesbury Community Hub to help support people during the lockdown.
Supporting the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
The GWSR is asking for your support during the lockdown to help the line survive. Donations as of Thursday 30th of April had passed £204,000 of the £250,000 railway hopes to raise. Any donations, big or small, are much appreciated by the GWSR and its volunteers.
For more information or to support the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, please visit their website here.
What did the officials say?
Richard Summers, the GWSR's volunteer Retail & Catering Services Director, says:
“We had stocked up for the new season, including special events that sadly, are now cancelled or postponed. Our trains, which ordinarily operate between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway only ran over two weekends before the lock-down.
“The things we have donated are likely to pass their ‘best before' date before we are able to resume services.”
Richard Summers says that the items could be regarded as ‘little luxuries', distributed alongside essentials.
“They include items you might not ordinarily find in a food bank – for example, crisps, chocolates, packaged bakery items and biscuits, sweets and soft drinks.
“We on the railway have always enjoyed the support of the local community so it's a pleasure to be able to put something back.”
Marion Badham, project manager for the Tewkesbury Foodbank, said:
“We're thrilled to receive these items and I know many of the people we are taking care of will be delighted to get some ‘goodies' alongside their basic groceries.
“The railway has a special place in our hearts and lots of local people are either members or enjoy riding on the trains. It's wonderful that the railway's first thought was to pass on the things they obviously can't sell to worthy causes such as ours. It would be such a shame if they were to go to waste.”
Mike Paganini, area manager of the Tewkesbury Priors Park Community Response, which along with HOPP (Heart of Priors Park) and Priors Park Neighbourhood Project is based at Priors Park Community Church, was equally delighted.
“Many of our volunteers are very familiar with the GWSR and were delighted that the railway has been able to support us,” he said.
“We are adding these rather lovely items to food parcels for families especially those who are finding the lock-down especially tough, for example those with disabled youngsters. We've had wonderful feedback from them saying that crisps or chocolates or a soft drink added to their supplies makes their day ‘a little bit better.”
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