Teesside University’s ‘Yule Help’ campaign, launched to provide food and support to Middlesbrough Food Bank, has already achieved fifty percent of its JustGiving target, having raised £507 in two weeks, as well as receiving hundreds in cash contributions.
The movement, created by second year Journalism students in collaboration with Middlesbrough food bank, aims to bring Christmas cheer to families in Teesside who access emergency support.
A variety of events and fundraisers have helped raise the funds, including social media campaigns, an event hosted by students at Teesside University’s Student Union, and raffle ticket sales, and more events are on the way.
Yule Help’s Events team have organised a fundraiser at TSOne, Middlesbrough, on Wednesday 7th December. The night promises live entertainment and prize draws, which will definitely help the campaign to get closer to the target.
People who go to the event can buy raffle tickets which could win them a myriad of generously-donated prizes, including gift sets and vouchers for other local businesses and restaurants in Teesside.
It is estimated that one in five UK residents live below the poverty line, and Teesside is often cited as one of worst affected areas.
The campaign was started after a recent study by the Trussell Trust found that in the six months from April-September this year, 519,342 three-day emergency food packages were distributed to people in crisis by their food banks.
Middlesbrough Food Bank, opened in 2012, is used by over 3,500 people and relies entirely on donations.
In order to see how Middlesbrough Food Bank works to provide people with care packages, a group of students who are involved in the campaign went to visit the Food Bank’s warehouse. Lucy Tyreman, one of the students that made the trip, said:
“It was a great experience to visit the warehouse, it gave us a great insight of all the time, effort and work that is put into distributing the food.”
Those who want to support the cause can find it using #YuleHelp.
To donate money, visit the JustGiving page here; alternatively you can provide non-perishable food items to one of the Teesside food banks listed here, or give clothes and toys in the cold run up to Christmas.
@yulehelp #yulehelp