Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Wirral Council joined forces to launch the Emergency Food Hub appeal and have been overwhelmed by the response. Tony McDonough reports

Businesses across Wirral have come together in a “massive response” to donate more than 20 tonnes of food for the most vulnerable people in the borough.

Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Wirral Council joined forces to launch the appeal and have been overwhelmed by the response. Local businesses are filling vital gaps in food provision for social supermarkets and community food providers.

The council-led Emergency Food Hub has seen donations from organisations such as, Cereal Partners UK, Smylies, Morrisons, Regal, M&S,  Jacobs, Tesco, Booker, Kellogs, Neighborly, Infinite Nutrition and a Wirral-based bakery.

They have already donated thousands of products, with more businesses pledging their support by the day. Wirral Council venues have also stepped forward with thousands of food items donated by the Floral Pavilion, West Kirby Concourse and Europa Pools in Birkenhead.

Many community food providers and local groups have also contributed to the huge effort, including, Feeding Birkenhead – Supporting Wirral, Neo Community, The Bistro at The Lauries,  Number 7, St James Community Centre and Wirral Foodbank.

Paula Basnett, chief executive of Wirral Chamber, said: “We knew that asking our business community for donations during these severe economic times was always going to be a difficult challenge, in spite of this what we have seen is businesses of all sizes unite to support our most vulnerable residents.

“Now more than ever, we all need to support one another. Our businesses fully understand that they too have a role to play in the fight against coronavirus and I’m proud of our business community for continuing to not only deliver our essential services, but to also donate the food that some of our  most vulnerable needs to survive.”

A Wirral Council spokesperson, added: “The response from local businesses has been magnificent. They’ve risen to this unprecedented challenge and share our commitment that local people won’t go hungry because of the current situation.

“Their generous support has allowed partners at Wirral’s Emergency Food Hub alone to distribute more than 20 tonnes of food in 2,200 hampers, providing much needed food to more than 5,000 people.”