Fruit and veg supplier Minor, Weir and Willis is donating fresh produce to a local foodbank to meet rising demand over the summer holidays.
The Birmingham-based business is providing apples, easy-peel oranges and dried fruit sachets to help boost the nutritional value of the food on offer at the B30 Foodbank, which operates from Cotteridge Church in Birmingham.
The foodbank arranges weekly activity days over the summer holidays in conjunction with Cotteridge Church with fresh fruit provided for the activities by MWW.
B30 is a member of the Trussell Trust, which has recently gone on record as saying this summer may be the busiest yet in many areas for foodbank visits.
Helen Gale, of B30 Foodbank, said: “Like most food banks, we aren’t equipped to regularly deal with fresh produce but as we are serving meals for children, rather than sending food parcels home, the fresh fruit donation is a great boost.”
Minor, Weir and Willis has been a key supplier on the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme - which provides a Government-funded piece of fruit or vegetable each day to all Key Stage 1 children in state-funded English primary schools - since it launched in 2002.
It also works with charity organisations SIFA Fireside in Birmingham and Fareshare nationally to fight hunger across Birmingham and the West Midlands through fresh fruit supply.
Mark Driver, of Minor, Weir and Willis, said: “We have worked for 17 years with the NHS and primary schools to increase the availability and consumption of high-quality fruit in schools as the positive impact this can have on children’s nutrition levels is huge.
“It is vital that this good work is continued over the summer months, especially now that we can also offer locally grown seasonal fresh produce.
“By supplying produce to the B30 Foodbank over the school holidays, we are able to continue this work with just a few of the younger people and families who may not have access to fresh fruit over this period, continuing to spread the message that fresh food is for every day and not just school days.”
