The Wards Charitable Fund, which is administered by Kent Community Foundation, has donated £49,000 to fourteen foodbanks across the county. The foodbanks each received £3,500 the week before Christmas to provide food for those struggling to feed their families. This donation is part of a pledge from Wards and their parent group Arun Estates that for every new property Wards list in Kent, £100 will be donated via Kent Community Foundation to local food banks.
Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation said, “There’s no doubt that we are in the midst of a crisis with continuing rising costs putting extreme pressure on the most disadvantaged. This winter will be tough for many in Kent and it will leave a great number of people struggling to make ends meet and keep their family warm, fed and well.
“We were pleased to distribute the first award, totalling £49,000, on behalf of Wards to fourteen foodbanks to help ease the increasing demand from families and we are delighted that there will be ongoing support from them for foodbanks throughout the year.”
The foodbanks that received the funding are Bright City Church Foodbank, Canterbury Food Bank, Whitstable Umbrella Community Support Centre, Deal Area Foodbank, Folkestone Rainbow Centre, Children & Families (Family Foodbank), Fareshare Kent CIC, Gravesham Foodbank, Medway Foodbank, The Community Cupboard, Faversham Food Bank, Margate Independent Foodbank, Thanet Foodlink Ltd and Nourish Community Foodbank.
Aldo Sotgiu, Arun Estates Group Managing Director said, “The ability to give back to our community and support those who need it most is a huge part of who we are and the values we represent. Right now, so many people are struggling, and we have always been focused on helping people in the best way.”
Heather Weitzel, Thanet Foodlink Ltd who received £3,500 before Christmas said, “We are currently spending about £1000 a week on food and this donation from the Wards Charitable Fund is hugely appreciated. We also want to say thank you to Kent Community Foundation for the work you do in distributing funds. Your help has supported us to give out over 1000 bags of food each month, for the last four months.”
To contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups call 01303 814500, email admin@kentcf.org.uk or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
About the Wards Charitable Foundation
Arun Estates, the Parent Company of Wards Estate Agents in Kent use Kent Community Foundation to administer their charitable giving through The Wards Charitable Fund.
For every new property Wards list in Kent, they will be donating £100 via Kent Community Foundation to local food banks to help support and provide vital items like clothing, food and energy vouchers.
About Kent Community Foundation
Grant-maker Kent Community Foundation has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary organisations in the county for over twenty years. In this time, it has distributed over £50 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
They are part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than ninety philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses, who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
