Kind-hearted Wakefield man raises £1,300 to help re-stock food banks

Jon Crowder (right) making a donation to the Well Project in Normanton.

Jon Crowder first shared a link around his workplace, Leeds-based marketing agency Journey Further, and quickly hit several hundred pounds in a matter of hours.

After opening fundraising to the wider public via his social media accounts, his total soon surpassed £600, before Jon’s band, Ey Up Maiden, decided to match the donation bringing the total to £1,200.

Subsequent donations have taken Jon’s total over £1,300 and he has now begun visiting a number of supermarkets and cash and carries to stock up on food, sanitary and pet items to donate to multiple local food banks.

Jon has visited a number of local shops to put together packages for foodbanks.

So far, the money raised by Jon has been used to create packages for several food banks, including the Well Project in Normanton, St Catherine’s Church Centre in Wakefield, and Belle Isle Food Bank in Leeds.

Donations ate food banks have dropped by as much as 25 per cent since the outbreak of the virus.

People have resorted to panic buying which has left supermarket shelves bare across the UK.

Jon Crowder said: "“After a colleague brought to my attention that The Trussell Trust (UK foodbank charity) had posted information that since the pandemic had occurred, foodbank donations had fallen, we decided to do something to help.

“After setting up a fundraising page my very generous colleagues at Journey Further had helped raise several hundred pounds in a matter of minutes. We then opened the page up to the public who, with the help of my band, helped to double the amount we’d raised.

“Having visited multiple supermarkets and cash and carry stores, it’s clear to see the impact coronavirus is having with empty shelves everywhere.

"We’re choosing to spend the money raised over a period of time to ensure we don’t reduce supplies further, with donations going to multiple food banks around the Leeds and Wakefield area.

“If anyone is struggling to get hold of food or unable to go to the shops as a result of self-isolation, I’d urge them to get in touch and I’d be more than happy to help.”