The Swindon-based packaging manufacturer stepped in to assist Swindon Food Collective, formerly known as Swindon Foodbank, following a surge in demand caused by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Cher Smith MBE, Manager at Swindon Food Collective, said: "Covid certainly caused a sharp rise in people using our services, but the cost-of-living crisis has seen this accelerate still further.
"This time last year we were feeding about 7,600 people; now, it's almost 11,000. This number is only growing.
"We've opened four more distribution centres in the last couple of years, taking us up to 11 in total, with another two planned.
"We've also opened one centre for longer so that we can spend more time with people collecting donations, rather than just a quick over-the-counter service. And we have had to recruit almost 40 more volunteers."
We are also finding that they need more donations to cover the surge in demand, which has equated to it distributing an extra 20 tonnes of food in the past 12 months.
Cher said: "Supporters can now download an app, called Bank the Food, that automatically sends notifications of the food products we are most in need of when they visit their local shops or supermarket. But even with this, we are now spending around £1,000 per month to ensure we have enough food."
GWP have also supported Swindon Food Collective in other ways such as providing maintenance technicians to rewire the electrics at our storage depot and storing pallets of donations at GWP's warehouse. A team of GWP employees also undertook the three peaks challenge to raise much-needed funds for the charity.
Cher added: "GWP has been one of our main supporters over the past 10 years, supplying us with boxes and providing other support as well. We really appreciate their help.
"As a charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals and local businesses to keep providing this vital service. We can't say thank you enough to everyone that supports us."
