Cheque boost for foodbank

Christmas will be brighter for hundreds of people struggling to feed themselves and their families thanks to a £300 donation from Asda.

The cash from the supermarket chain’s charity fund, the Asda Foundation, will help fill hampers given out by Bury St Edmunds’ foodbank.

Throughout December the Free Press has campaigned for people to donate to the foodbank which is run by the Gatehouse charity.

Michelle Frost, community life champion at Asda’s Bury store who also volunteers at Gatehouse, said: “This is the first time the foundation has done Christmas grants.

“We could apply for up the £300 per store, so I asked for it all for Gatehouse because I know they will put the money to very good use.”

Amanda Bloomfield, chief executive of Gatehouse, said it aawould be spent on Christmas extra for the hampers.

“I’d like to thank Asda so much for all their help - not just at Christmas but throughout the year,” she said.

“We’ll use this donation for things like cranberry sauce and stuffing that make Christmas dinner more special.

“The commitment from supermarkets who have our collection trolleys make such a difference.

“Those donations are the bread and butter of the foodbank all year round.”