For many smaller charities and community groups the spike in demand for their services has coincided with a drop in corporate income, which has created a perfect storm for Britain’s third sector.
But MERKUR UK and its high street customers have bucked this trend distributing a magnificent £147,706.59 to no fewer than 75 charities and not for profit community groups between January and May.
MERKUR has supported a raft of organisations ranging from food banks to environmental groups, Tai Chi classes for senior citizens to inner city football clubs and community kitchens to community gardens based in England, Scotland and Wales.
The selection of charities is based on recommendations received from customers and team members working across the MERKUR UK family of businesses.
One of the nominated organisations the MK Food Bank celebrated its 21st anniversary supporting the population in Milton Keynes and surrounding villages.
Growing from a small set-up the Food Bank has expanded to having 13 distribution centres and works with 100 agencies distributing over 31,000 food parcels each year.
A £12,000 MERKUR Partnership contribution has been made to help cover the purchase of supplies for emergency food parcels and top-up shops, as well as to support the maintenance of vans used to deliver to MK Food Bank’s centres in the county.
Louisa Hobbs, Operations Manager, MK Food Bank confirmed: “This generous grant is greatly appreciated as part of our valued partnership and will enable us to help many residents of Milton Keynes who are facing financial hardship and food insecurity.”
MERKUR UK General Manager Sascha Blodau said: “When we launched the projects we wanted to do two things. Firstly, it was important to involve our customers and our team members in the process of identifying organisations that they wanted us to assist and to help with generating funds.
“The second objective was to spread the net and work with a greater number of organisations active in the communities where MERKUR UK has a presence.
“A MERKUR Community award of £2,000 to a local football club to buy kit and hire pitches can make the difference between playing and folding. Unfortunately, it’s as simple and as stark as that.
“I’m delighted at what the team has achieved in helping so many hugely worthwhile organisations throughout the country.”