Sheffield's NHS staff support city foodbanks

Trust staff can donate dry food items which will go to the S6 Foodbank and Burngreave Foodbank which support thousands of people within their communities who may be struggling to feed themselves and their families, a situation which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The S6 Foodbank provided food for nearly 11,000 adults and more than 9,000 children during the first six months of the pandemic, while Burngreave supplied more than 1,700 emergency three day food parcels to people in crisis.

The collection bins are located outside the Sheffield Hospitals Charity hubs at the Huntsman Main Entrance at the Northern General Hospital and B Floor Main Entrance at the Hallamshire Hospital.

Kirsten Major, Chief Executive at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: “On a day when we have all taken a moment to reflect personally and professionally on a year of unprecedented challenge and change, I am sure many of us have also turned our thoughts to those who have lost loved ones, lost incomes and in many cases are struggling to provide basic things like food for their families. All of us in STH work here because we want to make a difference to people’s health and that responsibility goes wider than the care we deliver in our hospitals and community services. So I am delighted that today with the support of two of our local foodbanks and Sheffield Hospitals Charity we have installed two collection points for food donations.”

Gareth Aston, CEO of Sheffield Hospitals Charity, added: “It is only right that we do the best we can to support our local community and so I am proud that Sheffield Hospitals Charity is able to support this fantastic initiative.” Rachel Snow from Burngreave Foodbank said: “The demand we have had has doubled during the pandemic and for some people it really is a lifesaver because there are some who come to us with nothing. It is amazing that even in the midst of a pandemic the hospital is able to help us like this.” Chris Hardy from S6 Foodbank said: “The donations from hospital staff will mean less people going hungry in our region, and that means so much to us.”