Taste of Bath, the online store that connects those wanting to shop local with local food producers, has launched a major campaign to support its official charity partner Bath Foodbank by donating £1 for every hamper it sells.
The firm’s biggest ever charity initiative, it is already making an enormous difference. In the first six weeks of the campaign, almost £1,500 has been donated to Bath Foodbank.
That is enough to fund around 60 individual parcels – each providing three days’ worth of food for one person – or 23 family parcels – three days’ worth of food for a family of four.
Food bank use has been steadily increasing in recent years and, with the cost of living crisis likely to get worse, more people than ever will find themselves in need of their services this winter.
Taste of Bath founder and managing director Helen Rich said: “Taste of Bath is about to celebrate its seventh birthday and we’ve come a long, long way in those seven years.
“As a local business supporting local people, we think it’s only right to share our success in a way that benefits our local community. We’re looking forward to donating a whole lot more to Bath Foodbank over Christmas, which is always our busiest time of the year.”
Helen, pictured, left, with Bath Foodbank team member Liv, said it was truly heartwarming to know the campaign had already been able to help so many people.
“We know that being able to enjoy food and drink as a luxury as well as a necessity puts us in a privileged position, and we believe that gives us a responsibility to help look after those who are struggling,” she added.
“We’ve always been passionate about giving back to our local community. In the past we’ve worked with numerous local charities including Fareshare South West, and Bath Foodbank has been our official charity partner for a year now. But this is our biggest charity campaign yet.
“We’ll be donating £1 from every hamper we sell directly to the Foodbank with no hidden costs or deductions, including the large volume of hampers we supply to business customers – thus enabling lots of other local businesses to support the Foodbank too.
“We are honoured to be able to provide so much support for such a vital cause.”
Bath Foodbank food manager Grainne Moher said: “Thank you to Taste of Bath and to all your customers from the Bath Foodbank team!
“Your donations are much needed and help us to support individuals and families in crisis at this time.
“The fact that we are supported by our community in Bath and that it is local people helping other local people is invaluable. Please know that it does make a difference to the lives of people who need to use the food bank at this difficult time.”
As well as helping to fund emergency food parcels for people in crisis, Taste of Bath is constantly work with Bath Foodbank on other ways to provide support, the latest being a Bath Bookbank.
Run in collaboration Bath Children’s Literature Festival, the book bank will offer new books to keep for children and teens, with plans to extend it for all ages in the future.
The books are available from the food bank’s three main locations in Bath, Manvers Street Baptist Church, The Lighthouse Centre on High Street, Twerton, and St Philip & St James' Church on Frome Road, Odd Down.
Helen, pictured with Bath Foodbank team members John, Hilary and Liv, added: “In the course of our partnership over the past year we’ve learnt a lot from the hardworking Bath Foodbank team and we know that they put a huge amount of effort into going above and beyond providing simple emergency supplies.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions about the idea that ‘food is not the only sustenance we need’, and we’re delighted to have been able to help make Bath Bookbank a reality.
“The National Literacy Trust’s 2022 Annual Literacy Survey found that almost one-in-five children aged five to eight don’t have a single book of their own at home, a shocking statistic that Bath Bookbank will help to work against in our local area.”
