Veolia Environmental Services’ staff help to build up the Basics Bank

Southampton based charity Basics Bank is celebrating a generous donation of £900, food and clothing from Veolia Environmental Services.

Moved to action after hearing about all the good work the charity does, staff across Hampshire have been spring cleaning their wardrobes and buying extra tins of food at the supermarket for the collection.

The Basics Bank provides food, clothing and hygiene items to people who are in desperate need, and relies on donations to carry out their work. The charity will distribute second hand clothing and food to individuals and families who are on the breadline.

Ben Slater, Managing Director of Veolia ES Hampshire, said: “It has been a great response from the staff who have been very generous in donating food and clothing. I felt it was a worthy cause and it also encourages the reuse of clothing by giving it a second lease of life in the hands of those who really appreciate it.”

Tina Burgess from the Basics Bank added: ”We are delighted that Veolia and their staff have been able to assist us, we know just how much it means to the people we help. Last month we fed just under 500 people who wouldn’t have eaten otherwise and we are seeing an increasing demand for food and clothing due to the economic situation which makes the Basics Bank a vital resource for those in need.”

The Basics Bank provides basic food, clothing and hygiene items to people who are in desperate need, and relies on donations to carry out their work. When people need to use the service referral agencies, such as health workers, issue vouchers to families and individuals which can then be redeemed at a local centre where they will be given an allocation of food and clothing suitable to their needs.