Harborough company boss digs deep to help foodbank

A Market Harborough company boss is digging deep to help feed local families left struggling by the tough 11-month Covid crisis.

Tom Thorpe, 27, is giving the town’s highly-successful Jubilee Foodbank a shot in the arm by donating over £150 worth of critical food and toiletries.

And he aims to hand over vital food and other essential supplies on a quarterly basis this year in a bid to help keep the crucial community resource flying high.

“I was going to raise money for local charities last year. But then the national coronavirus lockdowns came along and everything got cancelled,” said Tom, who runs Commerce Utilities on St Mary’s Road, Market Harborough.

“So now I’ve decided to throw our weight behind the Jubilee Foodbank here in Market Harborough.

“They do a fantastic job getting behind people both in the town and local villages who are finding it hard to get by.

“The coronavirus pandemic has been a devastating time for so many of us in so many different ways.

“People have lost their jobs, their income has dropped and it’s a very worrying, uncertain time,” said Tom, of Great Glen, whose company procures electricity and gas deals for local businesses.

“I got in touch with the Jubilee Foodbank and they spelled out what sort of support they needed.

“So I went out to do a big shop.

“I bought a lot of instant coffee, tins of peas, carrots and sweetcorn, tinned fruit and tinned meats such as beef stew and chicken.

“Now it’s equally important that we continue to maintain this level of support throughout the rest of this year.”

Liz Mills, the Jubilee Foodbank’s chairperson, has said their 45-strong team of volunteers help about 100 people and families throughout the Market Harborough area every month.

She said they helped over 400 households and provided a record 30,000-plus meals to people last year after the level of demand shot up as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.

You can find out more about the Jubilee Foodbank here: https://jubileefoodbankmh.uk/And this webpage tells you what sort of food they would like donated and where you can drop off contributions as well: https://jubileefoodbankmh.uk/shopping-list/